When Jalil Bethea made the decision to transfer to Alabama after a disappointing freshman season at Miami, he undoubtedly envisioned a significant role playing for Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide.
Bethea, a former 5-star high school recruit, hasn't reached the potential he came into college with. A change of scenery didn't change that.
This season has surely been difficult for Bethea, who started the year off on the bench with an injury and hasn't been able to crack Alabama's rotation. Whether it be a bit too reckless of play on the offensive side, or not enough effort and focus defensively, Oats hasn't trusted Bethea when the chips are down.
That's tough for him to stomach, especially considering how many figured he was a one-and-done type player when he first got to college.
But perhaps there's no player on the team currently embodying Alabama's "mudita" philosophy better than Bethea, who earned praise from Oats on Friday and Houston Mallette in practice earlier in the week.
“The other day, after practice in a huddle, Houston stopped and commented on how great Jalil’s attitude, work ethic, everything in practice has been,” Oats said. “It’s a hard thing for him to go through, not playing as much. I think when Jalil sees guys like Wrightsell, Taylor, Houston embody it, it makes it easier for him. And he’s been great too. I can’t say enough about our guys’ attitudes and everything.”
Nate Oats praises Jalil Bethea's attitude despite limited playing time
A couple of years ago, Oats borrowed the word "mudita" from Alabama softball coach Patrick Murphy, who has long preached the philosophy to his team. Murphy stopped by an Alabama basketball practice recently and again gave a speech to the team about it.
"Mudita" is simple: it's finding vicarious joy through the success of others. That kind of mentality is the heartbeat of any great team. And Alabama strives to be a great team.
Alabama has won three consecutive games heading into Saturday's home game against South Carolina. It has been a terrific response to the bludgeoning it took on the road against Florida two weeks ago, when it felt like rock bottom.
When you can get a guy like Bethea to buy in when he isn't playing, you're doing something right. Bethea earned a small shift in the first half against Ole Miss on Wednesday after back-to-back DNPs in wins over Texas A&M and Auburn.
Oats has had no choice but to shorten the rotation for the SEC stretch run, and Bethea is one of the odd men out.
But basketball is one of those sports where you never know where you will eventually find a spark when you need it. As Oats has preached all year, when you are about the right things, good things happen for you.
The first part of that seems to be true about Bethea. Sooner rather than later, he's going to have his moment.