Nate Oats has Nick Saban on speed dial. Yet the Alabama men's basketball coach knew he needed as much input as possible as his team was reeling heading into the NCAA Tournament. The result? The Crimson Tide are making their first appearance in the Final Four.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats waves as he cuts down the net after a win over Clemson in an Elite 8 college basketball game in the NCAA tournament Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Los Angeles. Alabama forward Nick Pringle is high-fived by head coach Nate Oats during the second half of an Elite 8 college basketball game against Clemson in the NCAA tournament Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Los Angeles.
“The best team doesn’t always win because it’s a one-game elimination tournament. You’ve got to be hot at the right time. And we looked like we were not hot at the right time,” Oats said. “He kind of gave me the ‘next’ idea — next, next, next,” Oats said. “So guys bought in. We can make this run. Other teams have done it. We have the capability to do it. ... We can have the No. 1 offense in the country; we had it for the majority of the year. Let’s put a top-20 defense together and we can make a Final Four.
Oats has matched Saban when it comes to rebuilding a roster and surpassing expectations. Many picked Alabama to reach the Final Four last year as the top overall seed, but it lost to San Diego State in the Sweet 16. Alabama also got key contributions from the newcomers. Freshman Jarin Stevenson, who came into the game averaging 5.0 points, had a career-high 19 points. Grant Nelson, a transfer from North Dakota State, was solid again after taking over the final 10 minutes of the win over top-seeded North Carolina in Thursday night’s regional semifinals.
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