re: Tide Hoops | 31-6 (16-2)

Brandon Miller should be a LOCK.

Yeah I agree. We probably had a top 15 Bball program in the country back in the day, it somehow went to shite and was at its lowest point recently. Oats is definitely the man to revive it, Byrne knocked it our of the park by hiring him.

Crazy how Byrne found out about Oats too. Byrne was the AD at Arizona and they were a top 4 seed and a popular pick to win the NC, they had Ayton who went on to be the number 1 pick in the draft. Oats Buffalo team absolutely punked them in the NCAA tournament, beat them by over 20 points. So Oats was high on Bynre's radar after that obviously.

I do think Lexie being a freshman here does buy us 3 more years after this one, not that he wouldn't have at least that many years here regardless I think he would. Hopefully, the arena is in the process of being built by then too.

26 years from now, a year after Nate Oats retires from leading Alabama to 700+ wins, 12 SEC regular season championships, 9 conference tournament championships, 5 Final Fours, and 2 national championships...the school announces it is building a statue in his honor to stand outside of The Patterson Center, aka The House That Nate Built. To his surprise and amusement, it's actually a statue of his 3 daughters in their Alabama graduation caps and gowns, which is the reason he initially stuck around for 15 years and Tuscaloosa became his new home. Whoever our AD is at the time then informs him that the court is being named for him. Everyone sheds a happy tear.

There's your happy ending.

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I might be wrong but I think this puts Oats as the 7th or 8th highest paid Bball coach in the country. Thats big for Alabama bball.

Props to Byrne for stepping up to the plate. Makes me pretty optimistic that getting the arena done will be a huge priority going forward too.

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It makes me pretty optimistic that if Oats decided he wants to leave, that were willing to point up the money for an elite basketball coach. Because with a big salary and top facilities, we can be a major player. I'm fine with being a new blood, like Florida or LSU is with football.

No. 4/5 Alabama Travels to Louisiana to Face the Tigers

No. 4/5 Alabama men's basketball faces LSU at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Saturday (3 p.m. CT) as the Crimson Tide look to improve to 10-0 in the SEC for the second time under Head Coach Nate Oats and third time since the 1956-66 season (Alabama finished the year with a perfect 14-0 record). 

Over recent history the Tigers and Crimson Tide have played close ball games, with the three of the last four contests (Alabama leads 3-1) decided by three points or less. Two of the best in the SEC will square off as Alabama's Brandon Miller and LSU's KJ Williams were both named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List. 

The Broadcast
Saturday's game is set for a 3 p.m. CT tipoff and will be aired on ESPNU with Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) on the call.

The radio broadcast can be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) on the call, while Tom Stipe (engineer) is turning the dials. The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

Southern hospitality can make a home for the Oats to love and cherish, just like the Saban’s.

A lot of people don’t understand when money is a significantly lower priority for families of faith. Once you get to a level that allows you to provide the “American Basics” to your kids (college, car, etc.), it becomes an even lower priority and almost nonexistent. God’s not impressed by $100k cars, boats, multiple houses, etc. the way man is. Typically leaders who truly walk out their faith actually fight harder for the people they’re leading to get more money than they do themselves. It’s how I try to lead my team and other business leaders of faith I’ve talked to (I emphasize the actually walking out the faith part, nobody is perfect but anyone can just give lip service without their actions lining up with their words). I imagine Oats cares more about getting Chuck, Pett, and Hodgy more money than increasing his salary over the long term.

I posted awhile back that I didn’t think Oats would leave for Texas due to money and after his press conference, I’m pretty confident he will be at AL until his youngest is essentially through high school (about 7yrs) as long as we give him what he needs to succeed (NIL, arena, staff). Adjusting to the limelight is hard enough for young kids, and Oats would likely delay his career goals to not uproot them again for money or probably even the NBA. Maybe he talks a 16yr old into NBA 5yrs from now if it’s truly his dream, but I’d guess he would wait until she was almost finished with school to pursue it.

On a basketball note, even though it would be better for us if AU wins tomorrow, my heart will not allow me to root for Bruce over Rick. Go Rocky Top!

Hope our guys come out ready to play and have the desire to empty the PMAC by halftime. They can get it too!