Alabama rolls to 2nd SEC tourney title in 3 years

NASHVILLE, Tenn.– Brandon Miller strolled along the front row, commemorating and slapping high-fives with family and friends. Even his high school coach remained in the building.Playing in his home town definitely made the Southeastern Conference competition a friendly location for the league’s best player and tourney MVP– a freshman who likewise finds himself fielding questions about his off-court actions in January.Miller scored 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as fourth-ranked Alabama smothered No. 18 Texas A&M 82-63 on Sunday for the Crimson Tide’s second SEC competition champion in 3 seasons.” It means a lot just to have my household come just 5 minutes down the road to view me play …,”Miller said.”The fun part is simply really going out and getting a win with my people in the SEC champion.” It was the Crimson Tide’s second SEC double dip in three seasons, having picked up their regular-season trophy Friday. The Tide(29-5)extended the program record for wins while adding its eighth tournament title in its 15th appearance; both second only to Kentucky in the SEC.Alabama coach Nate Oats said sweeping the SEC two times in three years with completely different teams talks to the talent they’ve hired.”We’re fortunate to have the very best

player on the floor this year whenever we went out with Brandon,”Oats stated of the AP All-SEC player and newcomer of the year.Miller was greeted by a roaring crowd

that was filled with Alabama fans during pregame introductions, then published his ninth double-double of the season.” He’s a mismatch headache,”Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams said of Miller.”Who’s going to protect him? He can pass, dribble and shoot. He’s a position-less player that has size. He has that same flexibility on that other end.

“Miller has actually been a driving force for Alabama all season as it chases a top seeding in the NCAA tournament. However the group also is handling the fallout of former Tide player Darius Miles and another male being prosecuted on capital murder charges

for the January shooting death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris.In February, a private investigator testified that Miles texted Miller to bring him his weapon. Police also stated that Jaden Bradley likewise was at the scene. Neither Miller nor Bradley have actually been charged, and both have actually been playing– Miller, especially.Oats stated the group never ever forgets the disaster, stating “it’s always

there.””But today with the team we’re going to celebrate this win without forgeting that. Progressing, we’re going to try to keep the team focused on the task at hand, much like we have, without ever losing sight of the reality it’s an incredibly sad

situation.”Jahvon Quinerly, who was 0-of-9 shooting with one point in the semifinal, scored 13 of his 22 points in the first half. Charles Bediako had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Tide.The second-seeded Aggies(25-9 )dropped to 0-3 in the tournament finale, losing for a 2nd straight year. Dexter Dennis led Texas

A&M with 14 points, Wade Taylor IV had 13 and Tyrece Radford 12. Alabama snapped a five-game skid to Texas A&M, which included a 67-61 loss in College Station on March 4 in the routine season.

“Just a different atmosphere, completely various game for a champion,”Taylor said of the distinction between the two games.Mark Sears opened with a 3-pointer, and Alabama never trailed, making four of its first six 3s. The Tide led by as numerous as 33-17 with 4:10 left on a set of free tosses by Miller and 34-23 at halftime.The Aggies might not tear down shots, shooting a season-low 29.7%(19-of-64)from the floor, and never ever got closer than 9 in the second half.The Tide

padded their cause as much as 25 prior to Oats pulled his starters.