Brandon Miller Shines on Big Stage

He was a McDonald’s All-American popping out of highschool. He led Alabama in scoring in all three video games of its overseas tour. Brandon Miller entered this season for Alabama basketball with sky excessive expectations from the fanbase, and to this point, he is delivered. 

Miller as soon as once more led the Crimson Tide in scoring with 24 factors on 4 of seven taking pictures from behind the arc and 9 rebounds in No. 18 Alabama’s 81-70 win over No. 12 Michigan State within the Phil Knight Invitational Thursday night time. 

However he isn’t simply getting it carried out on the offensive finish. Miller was the blue-collar award winner for the sport.

“We often take a variety of three-pointers, and he was the one who was in a position to get them off and make them tonight,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats mentioned after the sport. “He was large. However he additionally led us in rebounding, gained the blue-collar award. Had deflections, rebounds, made performs on the defensive finish too. So, he’s not simply taking pictures the ball and taking part in nicely, he additionally acquired down hill.”

It was a back-and-forth affair within the first half with 9 lead adjustments. Alabama solely had a two-point lead with about 5 seconds left. Michigan State put up a 3-pointer that clanked off the rim. Miller took the rebound and sank a 3-pointer of his personal on the buzzer to present the Crimson Tide a five-point halftime lead. 

“I really feel like that 3 I hit was undoubtedly an vitality enhance for me and I suppose for the crew,” Miller mentioned within the postgame. “I really feel like I may’ve began off higher, however issues occur. I really feel like that was the change of the sport.”

Alabama carried the momentum out of halftime and constructed a 17-point lead within the second half that saved the Spartans at bay even once they began to make just a few 3-point pictures of their very own. 

Miller was considered one of 4 Crimson Tide gamers to complete in double figures, however early within the season, it is clear that he is the engine that makes this crew go. The true freshman has been the crew chief in factors in 4 of 5 video games on the best way to Alabama’s first 5-0 begin since 2017, one other season the place it had a gaggle of gifted freshman with the likes of Collin Sexton, Herbert Jones and John Petty. 

“All in all, he had a reasonably good sport,” Oats mentioned about Miller. “He must play nicely for us to be at our greatest, and he did.”

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