re: Alabama Shot 19% from Three Point Range

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Nate Oats thinks he’s so smart with his bull shite analytics. Relying on the 3 ball without Steph Curry on your team is foolish. One off night in the tourney and season is finished.

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If not for Nate Oats and his analytics, Alabama would not have won two SEC titles and two SEC tournaments in the past five years. I would rather make the NCAA tournament and have a cold night then go play in the NIT.

It Alabama was running a traditional offense, they would be a middle of the pack SEC team this year. They would be most years. Outside of Brandon Miller and Herb Jones, list all the current high level NBA talent that Alabama has had the past 5 years. This current roster is good. But it isn’t chock full of NBA talent. None of Oats teams have been. Alabama currently has 6 players who have been on an active NBA roster this season, 5 of them played for Oats. Five NBA level players in 6 years. The only two who are averaging more than 10 points per game are Jones (10 points/gm) and Miller (21 points/gm). He does have a lot of guys who looked really good in his system who are in developmental leagues. But that is what his system does. His style of play helps mask some deficiencies, make players look better than they may actually be, and allows Alabama to punch above their weight. If Alabama had Duke, Uconn, or Kansas type rosters every year then maybe it would be stupid to run his style offense. But Alabama never has. Nate Oats never has. What Nate Oats has is a transfer from Ohio, a transfer from South Dakota State, a transfer from Rutgers, a transfer from Auburn, a sophomore who may be an NBA talent eventually, and three highly touted true freshmen. His best shooter is on the bench, out for the year with an injury.

Alabama’s style of play is susceptible to a cold night costing them. But it is also possible they get on a hot streak and end up in the final four when they aren’t one of the best 4 teams in the country like last year.

There is no doubt there are pros and cons to it. But I will take Nate Oats and his analytics over the alternative.

While I absolutely will talk shite if Alabama makes a run in the NCAA tournament this season, the truth is I am just happy Alabama is consistently making the tournament. Oats has far exceeding just about everyone’s expectations. To call his system bull shite is dumb. Especially coming from a LSU fan.