FROM TUSCALOOSA: Nate Oats Challenges Alabama to Respond After Tough Auburn Loss
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama men’s basketball is facing a defining moment in its season. After falling at home to No. 1 Auburn, the Crimson Tide (21-4, 10-2 SEC) can’t afford to dwell on the disappointment as they prepare for a tough road battle against No. 15 Missouri on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Head coach Nate Oats made it clear—how Alabama responds will reveal the team’s maturity.
“Can we bounce back after a tough loss with the proper mindset?” Oats questioned on Tuesday.
So far this season, Alabama has answered the call after setbacks. After losses to Purdue, Oregon, and Ole Miss, the Tide responded with wins against Illinois, North Carolina, and Kentucky, respectively. Now, the question is whether they can do it again.
Oats reflected on a similar situation last season, when a home loss to Tennessee disrupted Alabama’s momentum. The Tide followed it up with another loss to Florida on the road—a mistake Oats doesn’t want his team to repeat.
“Have some of our guys this year grown up and matured since last year?” Oats asked. “Can some of the new guys provide better leadership?”
Based on what he saw in practice, Oats believes the answer is yes.
“I think some of the guys that were on last year’s team kind of wallowed in self-pity after the Tennessee loss,” Oats admitted. “We didn’t have the leadership to get ready for Florida. But yesterday in practice, I saw a different attitude.”
Alabama’s preparation continued Tuesday before the team boarded a flight to Columbia, Missouri. Oats was encouraged by the team’s energy.
“I liked our leadership yesterday in practice,” he said. “Today was a shorter session, but we got done what we needed to. We’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”
Tip-off between Alabama and Missouri is set for 8 p.m. CT on the SEC Network. Will the Tide prove they’ve grown since last season? The answer comes Wednesday night.
