Tag: Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball

Nate Oats responds to the Kentucky head coaching job rumors

Alabama Crimson Tide basketball coach Nate Oats takes to social media to respond to rumors that he would be a candidate to replace John Calipari at Kentucky.

Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball head coach Nate Oats was the center of rumors regarding the Kentucky Wildcats head coaching vacancy. With long-time coach John Calipari leaving for the Arkansas Razorbacks, there’s a need for a new head coach in Lexington, Kentucky.

Oats has spent five seasons in Tuscaloosa and has improved the program on the court, on the recruiting trail and in March each season. Just a few days ago, he led the Crimson Tide to its first-ever Final Four appearance.

Fans were conflicted online, with Alabama fans concerned that he’d jump at the opportunity, some Kentucky fans calling for Oats to be the primary candidate, and others considering him a legitimate option for the job.

Nate Oats is not leaving. In a post shared to social media, Oats addresses the Crimson Tide faithful,

“I am fully committed to this team and to this university. We have already accomplished some great things here, and there is nothing I want more than for The University of Alabama to win its first national championship in men’s basketball. Despite any rumors to the contrary, rest assured that I will continue that pursuit as your head coach.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama basketball news as it becomes available.

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Paul Finebaum believes Nate Oats to Kentucky is a real possibility

Could Alabama basketball head coach Nate Oats be on the move to Kentucky? Paul Finebaum believes it’s a possibility.

Just days after leading the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball program to its first-ever Final Four appearance, there are rumors that he could be on his way out of Tuscaloosa. With John Calipari leaving the Kentucky Wildcats for the Arkansas Razorbacks job, there is an intriguing job opening in Lexington.

This coaching carousel is still in the early stages and began when the first domino fell of Eric Musselman left Arkansas for the head coaching position for the USC Trojans.

Alabama and Oats recently reached an agreement on a long-term contract extension that features a buyout of over $18 million, but that steep price may not be an issue for Kentucky.

ESPN SEC commentator Paul Finebaum recently stated that the Wildcats saved a lot of money by not firing Calipari, and that they may be willing to dig into their pockets to bring in a coach that can change the program for the better.

The athletics department would not have to look very far, as Oats is in the SEC and is undoubtedly one of the hottest names in college basketball at the moment.

“The one you have to keep your eye on, we just saw SEC to SEC, Keep your eye on Nate Oats. He just took Alabama – yes, Alabama – to the Final Four for the first time in history. The only issue, he just got a new contract from Greg Byrne, the athletic director, and Greg Byrne put in a $20 million buyout.”

With the news of Calipari’s departure still fresh, there has yet to be any official word on the possibility of Oats being contacted by the Kentucky athletic department. For now, it’s all speculation, but it’s hard to believe that Oats wouldn’t be on a short list of possible targets for the Wildcats.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Nate Oats and the possibility of losing him to Kentucky as more news and reports become available.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Top images from Alabama’s battle against UConn in the Final Four

Alabama’s memorable March Madness run has come to an end. Relive the excitement from the game against UConn in the Final Four.

The Alabama Crimson Tide had a memorable and unprecedented March Madness run that culminated in the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance. However, head coach [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and his team couldn’t get beyond the extremely well-rounded UConn Huskies to advance to the national championship game against Purdue.

This year’s Alabama team was heavily doubted heading into the 2023-2024 regular season, as the roster had high turnover, the coaching staff was basically brand new across the board and the defense took a significant step in the wrong direction.

Nobody expected the Crimson Tide to be as dominant as they were in March, and yet they shocked the nation, their fans, and everyone but themselves by making it to the Final Four.

Photo gallery from Alabama vs. UConn in the Final Four of March Madness

Alabama basketball releases high-energy Final Four trailer

Not ready for the Final Four of March Madness? Watch this trailer by Alabama basketball as the team prepares to take on UConn and you’ll be ready to take the court alongside them.

The day has come for the college basketball national championship matchup to be decided. As the NC State Wolfpack take on the Purdue Boilermakers and the Alabama Crimson Tide take on the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of the 2024 March Madness Tournament.

Though Alabama is not the favorite in this matchup, with even the staff at Roll Tide Wire being split on score predictions, the team seems ready to roll.

As Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats has said during this week, there’s not much stress on his team. They feel as if they are playing with house money. They are happy to be where they are at but don’t feel the pressure that UConn likely faces to get to the national championship game. That ease of mind could be a real game changer when it comes time to tip-off.

On social media, Alabama basketball shared a trailer for the game against the Huskies and it has fans ready to line up alongside the team to take the court.

Narrated by Alabama alum and ESPN personality Rece Davis, the Crimson Tide is ready to roll into the Final Four with the mentality of ‘Why stop now?’

 

Former Kentucky legend meets with Alabama basketball team ahead of Final Four

Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team heard from a March Madness veteran who knows what it’s like to play in the Final Four.

Alabama basketball is heading into uncharted waters tonight as they will play in the program’s first-ever Final Four. The Crimson Tide beat the No. 1 seeded UNC Tar Heels in the Sweet 16 and the No. 6 Clemson Tigers in the Elite Eight here to earn a date with the No. 1 overall seed and defending national champion UConn Huskies. The Huskies have opened as an 11.5-point favorite with most experts predicting a blowout in favor of Dan Hurley’s squad, but this Alabama team seems relaxed.

Superstar for the Phoenix Suns and former Kentucky G Devin Booker stopped by to speak with the Tide in Phoenix this week. Booker was on the 38-0 Kentucky team that was widely regarded as one of the best teams ever before their shocking upset to Wisconsin in the Final Four. So, Booker knows better than anyone that anything can happen on this stage regardless of the David vs. Goliath story. Booker has gone on to be a First-Team All-Pro and 4x All-Star.

On top of sharing some words of encouragement for Nate Oats’s squad, Booker was kind enough to drop off some signature shoes for the ‘Bama players. Regardless of how the game goes, this has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players and fans alike.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Top images from Alabama basketball’s Final Four prep in Phoenix

See how Alabama has been preparing for the Final Four of March Madness while in Phoenix through this photo gallery.

The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team will take on the top overall team in the Final Four of March Madness, the UConn Huskies, with a chance to play for a national championship on the line.

Nate Oats and his team, consisting of standout players like [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Nelson[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag], [autotag]Jarin Stevenson[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag], have been in Phoenix since Tuesday and are still preparing for what is going to be the most important game in Crimson Tide basketball history.

UConn ended up landing in Phoenix in the early hours of Thursday morning after a handful of logistics issues delayed the Huskies’ flight.

The two teams will meet on the court at State Farm Arena at 8:49 p.m. ET.

Top photos from Alabama’s Final Four prep

The irony of where Alabama basketball is preparing for the Final Four

Alabama basketball is gearing up to take on UConn in the Final Four of March Madness in a gym that you wouldn’t believe.

Alabama Crimson Tide basketball won the West Region as the No. 4 seed and is now preparing to take on the top-seeded UConn Huskies in the Final Four. This unprecedented March Madness run by the program is not over yet, as head coach [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and his team look to advance to the national championship game.

Though UConn arrived in Phoenix, the site of the Final Four, very early Thursday morning, the Crimson Tide has been there since Tuesday, preparing for the biggest game in the program’s history.

A series of photos shared to social media by the Alabama men’s basketball account shows the team, and its many stars like [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Nelson[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag], [autotag]Jarin Stevenson[/autotag] and others, at their temporary practice facility.

The irony of it all is that the Crimson Tide is practicing at the home of Grand Canyon University, the team Alabama defeated in the round of 32 of this year’s tournament.

In response, the Grand Canyon men’s basketball account quoted to post and said “Just lock up when you’re done.”

Alabama defeated Grand Canyon in a physical battle that resulted in a low-scoring thriller that ended with a final score of 72-61.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama basketball as the team gets ready to face the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of March Madness.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Alabama assistant Ryan Pannone emerging as a finalist for Fresno State HC job

Fresno State basketball zeroing in on Alabama assistant Ryan Pannone as next head coach

After just one season with the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball program, assistant coach Ryan Pannone appears as if he may be on the move again as he has been tabbed as a finalist for the Fresno State head coaching vacancy, according to Mike Rodak of 247Sports. With the March Madness tournament still going on and the team preparing for the Final Four, I doubt we hear an announcement from either side soon but it appears as if he is their top target.

Pannone spent the first part of his career bouncing around overseas as an assistant before getting his first big break with the New Orleans Pelicans. After less than a year there, Pannone took one look at Tuscaloosa and saw all of the opportunities that [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] assistants were getting and decided to follow that path.

Despite probably not being the most talented roster Alabama has ever had, it is their first-ever team to make a Final Four appearance. A large part of that success can be attributed to Oats as well as his entire coaching staff.

At only 39 years of age, Pannone is a hot young name in the coaching world and is the exact type of energy that is needed in this new name, image, likeness and transfer portal era. Especially when reviving a program like Fresno State that finished 12-21 a season ago.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Alabama Basketball reaches out to Notre Dame transfer forward Carey Booth

The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball coaching staff recently reached out to Notre Dame transfer forward Carey Booth.

The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball program is in its first Final Four in program history. However, it has not stopped the coaching staff from hitting the recruiting trail hard, especially as high-profile players enter the transfer portal. Most recently, Alabama reached out to Notre Dame Fighting Irish transfer forward Carey Booth.

Booth spent one season in South Bend. The native of Englewood, Colorado averaged 6.4 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 0.5 assists per game. He also shot 39.1% from the floor and 29.7% from beyond the arc.

Booth is listed at 6-foot-10 and 203 pounds. If he were to commit to the Crimson Tide, he would add depth and versatility to Alabama’s frontcourt. It would be interesting to see Booth paired up with incoming freshman Aiden Sherrell and Derrion Reid.

There is no timetable for Booth’s commitment, but updates will be available as his recruitment progresses.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama basketball program and its involvement in the NCAA transfer portal.

What’s the statistical chance Alabama beats UCONN in the Final Four?

Alabama basketball has made it all the way to the Final Four in March Madness, but what chance does the Crimson Tide have in defeating the Huskies?

Alabama Crimson Tide basketball has made it to the Final Four, the first in the program’s history. This March Madness run has been memorable for head coach Nate Oats and his team, but they now face the tough task of taking on the UCONN Huskies with a trip to the national championship on the line in Phoenix.

Star players for Alabama like [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Nelson[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag] and even [autotag]Jarin Stevenson[/autotag] have played huge roles in getting this team this far in the tournament. UCONN, a No. 1 seed, has been a juggernaut and looks practically unbeatable.

ESPN’s advanced analytics broke down the chance each team has to win this game. In short, it does not look good for the Tide.

The Huskies have a 71.6% chance of advancing past the Final Four, which gives Alabama only a 28.4% chance of keeping its national championship hopes alive.

Alabama recently received some good news from guard Latrell Wrightsell, who has been out since the round of 32 with a head injury. He told reporters that he plans on returning and playing against UCONN.

When will Alabama Basketball and UCONN tip off in the Final Four?

On Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 8:49 p.m. ET, the Crimson Tide and Huskies will get things underway in Phoenix.

The winner of this matchup will go on to face the winner of No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers and No. 4 NC State Wolfpack for a national title.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM.