On Friday, Nate Oats did not use 'must-win' when talking about Alabama Basketball's game against Kentucky. The game is most assuredly that and Oats had other strong words, "We gotta come out like we’ve got our hair on fire. Like the season’s riding on the line. Because there’s a lot still riding on this game. It’s NCAA Tournament seeding. It’s SEC tournament seeding." Oats added that while the Crimson Tide does not control its destiny in the SEC Regular Season Championship race, Alabama remains a contender if it gets some help.
All of those things will take a hit if the Crimson Tide is unable to beat Kentucky for a second time this season. The Wildcats scored 97 points in the Tide win at Rupp Arena. Alabama has given up 204 points in its last two games. Nate Oats is demanding his team reverse the trend. "We gotta come out like we’ve got our hair on fire."
Every Alabama basketball fan understands the Crimson Tide has defensive and turnover problems. Oats directly summarized the weaknesses, "Defense hasn't been good. It hasn't been good for a number of halves now." He also knows urgency and added effort are not enough without executing fundamentals.
Alabama will be without one of its best defenders again on Saturday. Derrion Reid's lingering hamstring injury will keep him out of the game. New on Friday's injury reports was Mark Sears listed as probable. The nature of his problem is not known.
The Wildcats will again miss three key players, Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson will miss Saturday's game. Kerr Kriisa, who has been sidelined since December will also miss the game. The Wildcats have some good injury news. After playing against Vanderbilt on Wednesday night, it appears Andrew Carr is back to 100%. Carr has battled through a back injury since January, often skipping all practice sessions between games. He scored only four points against Alabama in Lexington and could only handle 18 minutes of action. Kentucky insiders say Carr has been a full go in recent practices.
Alabama Basketball Expectations
Beating the Wildcats is vital for the Crimson Tide, and a loss would be alarming. Nate Oats has significantly changed the expectations of Alabama basketball. ESPN's Myron Metcalf explained, "There is minimal margin for error for a team chasing the first national championship in program history. But the Crimson Tide know no matter how they emerge from this gauntlet, they won't get anyone's pity. They're among the game's elite programs and making a run to San Antonio is now the expectation. Anything short will feel like defeat."
To some talking about a National Championship after two bad losses is folly. Maybe it is. Nate Oats has been coaching for the national crown all season. It would be wonderfully poetic for Alabama to play like a champion against the SEC's most legendary college basketball program.