Alabama Basketball: Nate Oats looking for toughness instead of complaining

Alabama Basketball: Nate has seen too much complaining and not enough toughness as the Tide has struggled in SEC road games.

Going back to the Oklahoma game in late January, Alabama Basketball has lost three of its four road games. Nate Oats is demanding an end to that slide late Saturday afternoon, in Starkville. The Alabama Crimson Tide has not lost much standing in projected NCAA Tournament seeding. Still seen as a 2-seed by most Bracketologists, the Crimson Tide will not hold that seed line if it is upset by Mississippi State.

After the foul fest in Fayetteville that disproportionately punished the Crimson Tide, Oats has seen enough. Enough of complaining about something players can only control by not making foolish fouls. However Nate Oats or Alabama basketball fans feel about the officiating Wednesday night, the Tide made some dumb fouls.

The knee-jerk reaction by players and even more so, by fans is to blame the officials. Nate Oats is demanding his players take responsibility for their mistakes. Speaking on Friday, Nate Oats said,

"We foul a three-point shooter, and it was definitely a foul, and we throw our arms up and act like there was [no foul]. No, you fouled him. It was a dumb play."

The truth is the Crimson Tide has a proclivity for making foolish fouls all season. Reach-in fouls 25 feet from the basket, crashing into defenders who have established position, and yes, the cardinal sin of basketball defense, fouling a three-point shooter.

The Crimson Tide did not shoot well against Arkansas and has not shot threes well in its last two games, but Oats has focused on bad fouls and player reactions since the latest loss. He has basically told his team to shut up and play sound basketball. The only good reaction to a foul call, according to Oats, is no reaction.

More Alabama Basketball: How the Tide Must Improve

Oats is also concerned about his team’s toughness and recently the absence of it.

"I thought we got out-toughed at Arkansas so we’ll have to bring some toughness tomorrow."

Speaking about Mississippi State, Oats defined what to expect.

"MSU is starting 2 centers and a PF. A lot of rim protection. Hopefully with Bruner making shots, pull one of those bigs away from the rim."

Bruner and Juwan Gary returning from injuries make the Crimson Tide tougher. The Alabama Basketball team needs to be tougher and smarter, in a late February and March run, when its opportunity to make a splash in the Big Dance will be determined.

The Crimson Tide does not have a ‘must-win’ game yet. Beat the Bulldogs and it may not have a ‘must-win’ until the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Lose to the 13-11 Bulldogs and wins become important soon.