Alabama Basketball: Crimson Tide balancing ‘locked down’ and ‘locked in’

Alabama Basketball: The interval between the Crimson Tide’s second NCAA game and its Sweet 16 contest has been longer than sooner.

When Alabama Basketball tips off Sunday evening against the UCLA Bruins, it will have been six days since the Crimson Tide blew out the Maryland Terrapins. That is a long time to stay ‘locked in.’ The interval is an even bigger challenge given the ‘locked down’ requirements of this year’s NCAA Tournament.

As well as basketball practice, Crimson Tide players have done daily school work. There have been some fun, team outings. The Crimson Tide players appeared to greatly enjoy a recent Zoo trip. They even appeared to have a great time at Top Golf, though not by celebrating good golf shots. As Alabama Basketball coach, Nate Oats said, it was clear his players had been spending time in the gym rather than on the golf links.

Playing spades with each other has been another diversion. None of the recreations could make the time go fast enough for young men, anxious to play again.

Has the interval been too long? Will it have an adverse effect on how the Tide plays? UCLA and other teams have had the same interval between the last game and the next game. Different for the Bruins is they played in the First Four, leading to three games in five days. Unlike the Crimson Tide, the Bruins needed a rest break.

Playing at the high level the Crimson Tide attained versus Maryland provides no permanence. The Tide’s performance was strong enough against the Terrapins, any opponent in the Big Dance would have been challenged. At multiple times during the season, following Alabama Crimson Tide blowout wins, it was said the Tide, at its best, could beat any team in the nation.

Sustaining such performance is difficult. When a team is as ‘locked in’ as the Tide was against Maryland, a three-day break would be far better than a six-day break.

Nate Oats and the Alabama basketball staff will do everything possible to minimize any downside from the long interval. Nate Oats has had other tasks as well. As in, fending off overtures from Texas, Indiana and other schools.

The Crimson Tide may not hit the court sizzling against the Bruins. In the clash of totally opposite styles, the reason the Tide should prevail comes down to a name and a word. The name is Nate Oats and the word is discipline. Speaking on Thursday, Nate Oats said,

"We’ve got to be tough, rebound the ball, play a great defensive game. We won’t speed them up to our pace, we’ll have to defend late in the shot clock. We’re going to have to be disciplined and guard for 30 seconds. We’ve got to get that first rebound."

Nate Oats teaches toughness and discipline. His players trust him and each other. For that reason, a six-day wait to play should have no impact on Sunday’s outcome.

The Crimson Tide returns to Hinkle Fieldhouse to play UCLA. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:15 PM CST Sunday. The game can be seen on TBS.