Alabama men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats is in year No. 2 with the team. Both season’s have been under unique circumstances, with both season being severly impacted by COVID.
On Wednesday, Duke men’s basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski made comments regaridng the current state of basketball and if it should even be played due to the ongoing pandemic. Duke has since canceled their non-conference schedule for the rest of the 2020-2021 season.
Oats was quick to point out that it’s okay to play, since we are all humans in need of continuing on with out lives, just carefully, so as to not put ourselves and anyone else in danger.
Another, more controversial point made by Oats was that Duke is currently 2-2. A team that is typically the team to beat no having a great start to the season could be why Coach K made those comments.
Twitter was quick to catch on and have either sided with, or against Oats. Here’s what they had to say:
Nate Oats on Coach K wanting to delay play due to COVID-19: “Let me ask you a question. Do you think Coach K would be saying that if he hadn’t lost those two non-conference games at home?”
— Cecil Hurt (@CecilHurt) December 10, 2020
Wow, Nate Oats coming for Coach K's grillllllllll…
😬 pic.twitter.com/mbBTw859xY— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) December 10, 2020
Listen to a short clip of his comments here.
Here are Nate Oats' full quotes on Duke/Coach K. Here is the best part:
"Humans, they're not made to sit alone in isolation for weeks on end. We have to be careful on how we do life, but we still have to do life."
THANK YOU
Oats/Torres, 2024 🇺🇸🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/EoBIs3BVrW
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) December 10, 2020
The full clip includes Oats comments on basketball and the need to return to somewhat normal life with caution.
Text from one coach to me after seeing this comment about Coach K from Nate Oats:
“NCAA will be on his campus in 45 minutes flat. Dead man walking.” https://t.co/e01Ir87JWS
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) December 10, 2020
It’s been a day, and no NCAA personnell on campus… that we know of.
Nate Oats and his son Coach K pic.twitter.com/yDzOVn8MFy
— KD ➐ (@notkdk3) December 10, 2020
And the memes begin.
absolute scenes outside coleman coliseum as people have come out in droves to defend nate oats for coming after coach k. pic.twitter.com/9bjI45RfLU
— Cameron Luke Ratliff (@fluffopotamus88) December 10, 2020
The Alabama student’s have come to support Oats.
I like Nate Oats pic.twitter.com/uwbpI4xQ6P
— B Turn (@bturner23) December 10, 2020
Calling out other coaches is nothing new for the head coach.
Nate Oats said what most folks are thinking re: Coach K/Duke.
But, like, he actually went there. Out loud.
— John Martin (@JohnMartin929) December 10, 2020
Duke fans aren’t going to like this one.
hey @Greg_Byrne get that dude nate oats a new arena
— josh primo fan account (@cadesmith_3) December 10, 2020
If the national media is going to focus in on Alabama basketball, wouldn’t a new arena be nice?
ladies and gentlemen,
alabama basketball, by way of nate oats, just led off sportscenter with SVP.
— Cameron Luke Ratliff (@fluffopotamus88) December 11, 2020
Nate Oats is putting Alabama basketball on the map, one way or another.
Nate Oats… pic.twitter.com/ZnvlsmfN4J
— Stuart McNair (@stuartkmcnair) December 10, 2020
FROM THE TOP ROPE.
ladies and gentlemen,
alabama basketball, by way of nate oats, just led off sportscenter with SVP.
— Cameron Luke Ratliff (@fluffopotamus88) December 11, 2020
Alabama – Duke. A new rivalry?