Alabama Basketball: Nate Oats listed among nation’s top coaches

Nate Oats has significantly improved Alabama Basketball and national experts are taking notice.

Take away the loss to Oklahoma and Alabama basketball fans were ecstatic in the month of January. Beginning with a late December win over Ole Miss, the Alabama Crimson Tide won nine straight SEC games before losing to the Sooners.

The run included blowout wins over Kentucky, Arkansas and LSU, two of the three gained on the SEC road. Florida was handled at home. Tennesee and Auburn were beaten on the road. Casual Alabama basketball fans began to expect the Crimson Tide to win every game. Those having paid closer attention for many seasons knew better. It was never going to remain so easy through February and March.

Injuries and basketball realities have shown the Crimson Tide, of its last six games, is not invulnerable. Going back to the win over Mississippi State, Alabama basketball weaknesses have stood out during some or most of the games. Credit to Nate Oats and his players, with few lapses, the Tide has battled its way to four wins in the six games.

More: Tide gets ‘must-win’ at South Carolina

It is not likely to get easier. The next three games are against lesser teams. As the South Carolina game showed, no wins are guaranteed. From soaring to 10-0 in the SEC to facing pressure in every game, winning has become harder for the Crimson Tide. Injuries are a big reason. Losing Jordan Bruner took a key component away. Herbert Jones has not been healthy for three weeks and did not appear close to 100 percent against Missouri and South Carolina. Alex Resse and James Rojas have had injury problems. Juwan Gary went down with a shoulder injury against the Gamecocks.

Despite the adversity, Alabama Basketball is 16-5 and clings on to a projected No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament. National college basketball experts are paying attention. Nate Oats is included in conversations about the nation’s best college basketball coaches.

One example is a ranking from Coaches Database listing the five coaches having done the best jobs this season. Nate Oats is listed in some strong company.

"Coach Oats promised to deliver a more entertaining and high-speed product under his leadership and he has not disappointed Alabama fans.With the improvement of the Crimson Tide’s offense, they have become one of the nation’s most vicious teams. With this achievement, their head coach is also climbing up the list for the National Coach of the Year award."

The other four coaches listed among this season’s ‘five best’ were Gonzaga’s Mark Few, Baylor’s Scott Drew, Michigan’s Juwan Howard and Missouri’s Cuonzo Martin.

Six more SEC regular-season games, the SEC Tournament and an NCAA Tournament; how the 2020-21 season ends is unknown. However it ends, Nate Oats has quickly moved the Alabama basketball program to an upward trajectory.

Nate Oats made an astute decision against South Carolina. With 16 seconds left, Keon Ellis made a free throw putting the Tide up three. At two seconds left, South Carolina had an inbounds situation underneath their basket. After a timeout, Frank Martin spread shooters outside the arc. Oats countered with perimeter defense and an unattended basket. Enticing the Gamecocks to take an easy two-point basket was bold. South Carolina scored and immediately fouled. The Tide pushed its lead to three with two free throws by James Rojas. The Gamecocks never got off another shot.