Following Alabama basketball's 20-point loss to Duke in the Elite Eight on Saturday night, you could understand if Nate Oats didn't want to think about what was next for this program. This team entered the year with so much promise, never quite lived up to the preseason hype - in part due to reasons outside of their control - but still ended up in the Elite Eight for the second straight season and the third time in program history.
Those who have followed this program for long enough know that a season ending in a Regional Final could never be considered a disappointment. This loss capped what was the best three-year run in program history.
Two years ago, Alabama earned a 1-seed for the first time in program history. Last year, as a 4-seed, they made an improbable run to the Final Four. This year, Alabama got back to the second weekend and finished a win away from a second straight Final Four appearance. Unfortunately, they ran into the buzzsaw that is a Duke Blue Devils team that should be considered the overwhelming title favorite.
And while Oats had no problem reflecting on this season and the missed opportunities his team had against Duke, he also couldn't help but look ahead to what could be for this program.
"With the standard of excellence we’ve set across all of college basketball, we’ve established ourselves as one of the best programs in the country," said Oats.
"Are we disappointed tonight? For sure we are, but we’ve put ourselves up there with everybody else. And we’re going to continue to do that year in and year out and keep knocking on the door, keep pounding the stone, if you will, and be one of the teams competing for a Final Four and a National Championship and conference championships in the best conference in college basketball every year, and we’ll get back to the Final Four and win one here soon."
Winning a national championship in college basketball is the most difficult championship to win in team sports. You have to win six straight games in a single-elimination tournament. Even the best coaches struggle to ever win one.
Gonzaga's Mark Few has never won one. Neither has Bruce Pearl or Rick Barnes. Tom Izzo is widely considered one of the best tournament coaches of all time. He led Michigan State to a National Championship 25 years ago and never won another.
But Oats believes in his system and believes in the talent that he can attract to Tuscaloosa.
Alabama's 2025-26 outlook should put them back among the elite in college basketball
We'll learn more this coming week about what Alabama will look like next season. Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Cliff Omoruyi, and Chris Youngblood will all be gone. Labaron Philon might go pro, and who knows which players will ultimately enter the Transfer Portal.
But Alabama expects to have plenty of talent back like Aden Holloway, Aiden Sherrell, Latrell Wrightsell, Mo Dioubate, Jarin Stevenson, Derrion Reid, and Houston Mallette. The Tide signed three Top-65 players in the 2025 recruiting class, and they are already pushing for some talented players in the Transfer Portal.
Preston Murphy has been working the Portal alone but now will have reinforcements with Oats shifting his focus to next year's roster immediately.
Oats has a proven ability to build a roster with players who fit his system. I'm sure there will be a greater emphasis on length and defensive ability. Alabama was good defensively this season - contrary to popular belief - but they weren't quite elite. That's the level they need to be at to have a chance at winning the whole thing.
Oats is confident that will eventually happen. You just have to give yourself as many swings at the plate as you can.