Following No. 2 Alabama’s three-point win against Arkansas, an announcement was made ahead of coach Nate Oats’ press conference. The steward of the Crimson Tide men’s basketball program would only answer questions regarding the game.

The program was trying to move past the backlash following its handling of the Jan. 15 shooting which involved three Crimson Tide players (only Darius Miles was charged). And after decrying an introductory routine in which star freshman Brandon Miller appeared to be patted down for weapons, Oats talked a bit about the 86-83 final score.

When one reporter asked Oats about comments made by the family of Jamea Harris, the 23-year-old victim, — Harris’ relatives told AL.com they were offended by Oats and said he had not yet reached out to them — a UA press representative tried to cut off a potential response. Oats answered anyway.

“Listen, just to address it a little bit. I apologized for my previous comments this week,” Oats said. “We understand the severity of it all, but I’m following the administration’s lead on everything here. So we’re going to talk about the game only is what they would like for me to talk about.”

DeCarla and Kelvin Heard, Harris’ mother and stepfather, respectively, were brought to tears by Oats saying Miller, who brought Miles the gun used in the crime upon Miles’ request, was at the “wrong spot at the wrong time” and Miller “did nothing wrong.”

Both requested Oats refrain from naming Jamea Harris or her five-year-old son, Kaine, until he calls DeCarla and offers his condolences, which the reporter inquired about on Saturday.

“There was only one person in the wrong place at the wrong time and it was Jamea,” Kelvin Heard said. “When I heard him say that my heart hit the floor. His words cut so deep. It’s just downright disrespectful.

“This season is stained in Jamea’s blood. After what this coach said, for us as a family, this season is stained in the blood of Jamea Harris and it’s not ever washing out. Coach Oats crossed the line [Tuesday]. He said they prayed at practice. They weren’t praying for Jamea. They were praying for their own players.”

Attention was paid to what Alabama officials knew and when regarding the trial when Oats finished his pre-South Carolina press conference, an issue clarified by Byrne on an ESPN podcast released Wednesday.

Alabama has yet to make Miller or Jaden Bradley, the other freshman confirmed to be on the Tuscaloosa strip that night, available for press conferences since the news broke. Tuscaloosa law enforcement officials said Miller and Bradley have been fully cooperative and cleared of wrongdoing in the case.

Miller, who has scored 65 points across Alabama’s last two wins, was greeted with boos at South Carolina and raucous cheers inside Coleman Coliseum since his presence in the case was made public. Oats ended his press conference by answering how he thought Miller has handled this past week.

“I think he’s one of the most mentally, if not the mentally most tough kids I’ve ever coached in my life and I’ve been coaching for a while. While he completely understands that the situation is tragic, he takes it very seriously as he’s been cooperating the whole time,” Oats said. “… He’s got a special way about getting locked into where he’s currently at.”

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].