The Alabama Crimson Tide, a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, experienced a dramatic shift in performance between the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight.
After a record-breaking offensive display against BYU, scoring 113 points, they struggled against Duke, managing only 65 points. Their top scorer, Mark Sears, had an uncharacteristically poor outing, making just two of his twelve shot attempts and finishing with six points.
For the second consecutive season, Alabama’s national championship aspirations came to an end before reaching the title game. Last year, they advanced to the Final Four, while this season, they were stopped in the Elite Eight.
Despite the setback, it’s a testament to how far the program has come under head coach Nate Oats, who has played a pivotal role in elevating Alabama basketball.
Although the loss to Duke was disappointing, Oats remained confident about the future. After the game, he made it clear that Alabama’s journey toward a championship is far from over.
“We’ll get back to the Final Four and win one soon,” Oats stated. “We need to focus on securing a No. 1 seed during the regular season because it makes the path [to the Final Four] a little easier.”
Fans echoed his optimism, expressing belief that the Crimson Tide are on the right track.
“Totally believe that. Only a matter of time,” one fan remarked.
“I believe,” another added.
“Yes sir,” a supporter responded.
Another fan drew a comparison between Oats and legendary Alabama football coach Nick Saban, saying, “I like a motivated Nate Oats who is setting a true standard for Alabama basketball. He’s not Nick Saban, but he has some similarities.”
Looking ahead, Alabama faces a transition as they prepare to move on from key contributors like Mark Sears and Grant Nelson. The NCAA transfer portal, which opened last week, will be crucial in shaping next season’s roster.
Though the team was still competing when the portal opened, putting them slightly behind other programs, Oats praised Preston Murphy for staying active in recruiting efforts despite the timing disadvantage.
