Any conversation about the SEC’s best basketball coach must include Alabama Basketball, Head Coach, Nate Oats. While Alabama Crimson Tide fans lead the Nate Oats bandwagon, the Tide’s fourth-year coach is also recognized nationally.
For the second time in three seasons, Oats is included in the late-season watch list for the annual, Naismith Coach of the Year Award. This season’s list includes heavyweights Kelvin Sampson and Sean Miller, along with Mick Cronin and Matt Painter. The only other SEC coach on the list is Missouri’s first-year coach, Dennis Gates.
For Oats to win the award would be huge for the Alabama Basketball program. Also on the minds of Crimson Tide fans is that Nate Oats may have established himself as the best roundball coach in the SEC.
Such a claim must be viewed by other than crimson-tinted opinion. Let’s look at some numbers that compare the broadly perceived best coaches in the SEC. Along with Oats, those coaches are Rick Barnes, John Calipari, Bruce Pearl, Eric Musselman and Buzz Williams.
Last three seasons SEC Coaching Records (conference games only)
Numerically, a better sample would be to go back five seasons. But Oats, Musselman and Williams are in their fourth seasons as SEC coaches. It would also taint the comparison of the sample included first-year seasons for some coaches and not others. So only the last three seasons are used.
Note: The Buzz Williams record is arguably not a fair comparison, because, in the 2020-21, COVID-impacted season, the Aggies played short-handed and only competed in 10 SEC games.
- Nate Oats; 38-12; Winning Percentage – 76%
- Rick Barnes; 33-16; 67.3%
- Eric Musselman; 33-16; 67.3%
- John Calipari; 31-18; 63.3%
- Bruce Pearl; 30-20; 60%
- Buzz Williams; 29-21; 54.8%
Arkansas fans can rightly attest, that based on recent NCAA Tournament success, Musselman is the SEC’s best coach. Musselman has led Arkansas to two Elite Eight appearances. Though not in the last three seasons, Tennessee and Auburn fans can argue their coaches have taken a team to the Final Four. For Rick Barnes, it was a Texas team that made a Final Four. Kentucky fans, those who are still inclined to lobby for Calipari, can point to his six Final Fours (four with Kentucky) and the Wildcats’ 2012 National Championship.
Even Alabama Basketball fans can be wrong
What comparison matters most is debatable. And sometimes, the perspective of fans can be flawed. Back when Bruce Pearl was waiting out his NCAA- imposed, show cause’ and before Auburn hired him, many Alabama basketball fans wanted Pearl to become the next Crimson Tide head coach.
Until recent weeks, Pearl has been viewed by Auburn fans as comparable to UCLA legend, John Wooden. Pearl’s record in the three most recent seasons, against Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Texas A&M, is 7-13. During the same period, Nate Oats’ record against Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Texas A&M is 12-7.
That glaring disparity between Nate Oats and Bruce Pearl might be why some Auburn fans are calling the Pearlster, Gus Malzahn 2.0.
Note: Team records provided by Sports Reference
Nate Oats as the SEC’s best basketball coach is an unfinished work. But before this season is over, there may be no more reason for debate.