A surreal scene unfolded during Wednesday night's Alabama-South Carolina men's basketball matchup, when Gamecocks fans were heard taunting Crimson Tide star Brandon Miller over his alleged involvement in an ongoing murder case.
Earlier this week, Miller, a projected NBA lottery pick, was named by a police officer during court proceedings in the January fatal shooting of 23-year-old Jamea Harris on Tuscaloosa's Strip.
According to the officer's testimony, Miller brought the murder weapon to the scene of the crime at the request of alleged shooter Michael Lynn Davis and then Alabama teammate Darius Miles. The gun belonged to Miles, who has since been dismissed by the university.
Despite Miller's role in the tragic and senseless killing, he has not been charged criminally -- nor disciplined, at least publicly, by Alabama.
After the public revelation of Miller's involvement, the school and coach Nate Oats came under withering criticism for declining to take action against Miller. Oats initially downplayed Miller's role in the crime as being in the "wrong spot at the wrong time," but later apologized.
On Wednesday at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, fans were heard chanting "lock him up" while Miller was shooting a free throw after being fouled on a thunderous dunk.
Soon after, a fight between fans broke out in the stands behind the basket where Miller was taking his free throw, prompting a brief delay in the game while security tended to the scuffle.
In response to the disruption, ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg offered up a bizarre take, suggesting fans should be honoring Harris and her family by "respecting" both teams -- including, apparently, the one whose star player was allegedly involved in the murder.
"That's just unacceptable," Greenberg said. "People need to be enjoying how hard these teams are playing, and having some perspective. With everything that's gone on around this basketball team at Alabama for the last week, how about paying respects to Jamea Harris and her family and young son, by coming here, rooting for your team, getting lost in the game, and respecting both of these teams."
Meanwhile, the second-ranked Crimson Tide escaped with a two-point win over the pesky Gamecocks in overtime. Miller finished with a whopping 41 of his team's 78 points, going 14-of-25 from the field with six 3-pointers, eight rebounds, one assist, three steals and two blocks. With the win, Alabama improved to 24-4 on the season.
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