Brandon Miller Not Named SEC Freshman of the Week Despite 65-Point Week
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference announced on Monday that Arkansas guard Nick Smith, Jr. had been named the SEC Freshman of the Week after scoring 26 points against Georgia and 24 at Alabama.
According to a release issued by the SEC, Smith was named for his averages of 25.0 points scored and 3.5 rebounds across the two contests. The conference also noted that the two games were his third and fourth after returning from an injury that he had suffered earlier in the season.
The selection of Smith is notable due to Alabama's Brandon Miller not being selected despite two solid performances on the hardwood last week. At South Carolina last Wednesday, Miller recorded a season-high 41 points alongside eight rebounds, two blocks and three steals in the Crimson Tide's 78-76 overtime win. On Saturday against Smith and the Razorbacks, Miller recorded 24 points and six rebounds as well as a block.
Across the two-game stretch, Miller averaged 32.5 points per game and 7.0 rebounds — both marks being significantly higher than Smith.
However, the selection of Smith over Miller shows evidence that on-court performance is not the sole metric that the SEC uses to determine the Freshman of the Week. At least, not in this case.
Beginning last Tuesday, Miller has been the subject of controversy due to his name being brought up during a preliminary court hearing. Testimony by Tuscaloosa law enforcement stated that Miller had been in contact with Darius Miles, with Miles requesting that Miller bring him his gun — the same gun that was used to murder Jamea Jonae Harris near the Tuscaloosa Strip soon afterwards.
Miller was never charged nor considered a suspect by police. He was brought in for questioning as a witness, with which both Alabama head coach Nate Oats and the Alabama administration have stated he fully cooperated. Neither the SEC nor Alabama Athletics have issued any form of discipline for Miller, nor has the SEC issued any comments on the matter.
Miller has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week six times this season, with the honor being issued to him most recently on Feb. 13. The six times ties the Alabama program record set by James "Hollywood" Robinson back in 1991.
See Also:
Nate Oats Says Brandon Miller's Patdown Pregame Intro Won't Happen Again
Alabama Basketball May Play Like a No. 1 Team, But Must Learn How to Act Like One: All Things CW
