What an incredible job he’s done with Alabama basketball.
For the more experienced fans, when was Alabama basketball this relevant?
For the more experienced fans, when was Alabama basketball this relevant?
Appreciation for Nate Oats
- Thread starter kyle h
- Start date
Not since Wimp Sanderson days and before that CM Newton.
I still say Bama needs to up his pay by about $2 mil and start building that new arena.
This is a tough question. Last year was obviously the best season we’ve had in 30 years… and he’s got us right back this year with a sightly uglier but still getting it done type team. I’m 34 years old, and I’ve never had this much tangible reason for optimism. Even the Elite 2004 season wasn’t really a great season. It was really a struggle in the sec… they just went off in the tournament. That was a bubble team for much of the year.
Yep, Wimp had a lot of real dudes on his teams…too bad he thought basketball was supposed to be a rock fight and got wrecked by the 3pt line and open offenses.
Gottfried had some nice teams too, but most weren’t real contenders and were soft.
1992 …not the one I was looking for but still a goodie
1995 …this is the one I was looking for but 1992 may be better
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Nothing since the mid-nineties till last season even compared to Wimp Sanderson days and the Plaid Palace. Nate Oats has brought that back. Now lets see if he can top it.
Most trips to Florida have resulted in blowout losses. This team isn’t pretty but they will compete. I thought we were in a lot better shape than Florida. We got all the 50,50 balls in the 2nd half
Technically, Mark Gottfried’s Elite 8 team and No. 1 ranked team (for one week) was “relevant.” But, I would say Wimp’s last years were the best in the last 40 years.
He's doing great! Our Real Time RPI is now #7 with the #1 strength of schedule.
If Oats keeps this up through the regular season then IMO we're pushing into air that Bama basketball hasn't been in since the 70s. As such Oats would be approaching impact comparable to what CM accomplished.
That was before my time but CM had a few teams that as I understand it could have had a real shot at a final 4 but for the limited tournament setup that the NCAA had at that time. Stuck in regions with the best teams of the decade and you basically didn't get in unless you out played UK for the conference title. CM inherited a program that was even more dead than what Oats was handed.
Wimp had some great runs in the 80s and early 90s but only a couple of those teams were in this kind of position in early January. Most of his teams would stumble through early SEC games and then really catch fire in Feb and March before running into that wall in the tournament.
Oats beat two final 4 teams in Dec and we didn't really play a "bad" team in our 13 game pre conference slate en route to 10-3. I'm not sure we've ever been in this position in January relative to strength of opponents .
We still have to finish the season for it to matter going forward but its damn impressive for Bama basketball.
That was before my time but CM had a few teams that as I understand it could have had a real shot at a final 4 but for the limited tournament setup that the NCAA had at that time. Stuck in regions with the best teams of the decade and you basically didn't get in unless you out played UK for the conference title. CM inherited a program that was even more dead than what Oats was handed.
Wimp had some great runs in the 80s and early 90s but only a couple of those teams were in this kind of position in early January. Most of his teams would stumble through early SEC games and then really catch fire in Feb and March before running into that wall in the tournament.
Oats beat two final 4 teams in Dec and we didn't really play a "bad" team in our 13 game pre conference slate en route to 10-3. I'm not sure we've ever been in this position in January relative to strength of opponents .
We still have to finish the season for it to matter going forward but its damn impressive for Bama basketball.
Absolutely right. Rebounding and ending their possessions by getting 50/50 balls was huge.
Small pockets of success over the years with Newton, Sanders and a few transient coaches but nothing uber consistent. Recruiting, talent and style of play feels different with CNO.
Wimp had some really good teams in the mid 80’s, but his best teams, and the most talented that I have ever seen at Bama(since’83), we’re his teams from ‘87-‘92(excluding ‘88). The Elite 8 team in ‘04 just played well for the 1st 3 games of the tournament. The last really relevant contending team, outside of last season, was in ‘03 when were a #2 seed.
I sure wish they’d build him whatever he wants and sign him up for a long time. On a different note, I heard on the radio today before tonight’s game, Oats was I think 11-12 in true road games. So after tonight he’s .500 in those. I don’t want to add it up but I’m guessing he’s killing it at home.
I started attending games very early with grandparents and was in school during Wimp’s time, so I have seen basketball at UA for a long time. When Newton came in we were just so excited with the product as we were awful before. Then Wimp added to the program by giving us teams that played tough and hard every night at home. Just a fun atmosphere. Oats is developing a similar feeling at the games. So glad to see Coleman full of fans having fun supporting Bama basketball.
Yep the Good Guys have one now that many years from now will be looked at as one of the programs great ones. Here's hoping he hangs around like the G,O.A.T. has and builds a legacy of his own.
ROLL TIDE !!!
ROLL TIDE !!!
I can’t remember watching Alabama play a Florida team and the talent differential being so significant.
Every position ( maybe the center position was close ) Bama players were just better.
Nate Oats and staff just get better players than any other staff since wimp who recruited athletes and turned them into Bball players .
When Quinerly is on, the ceiling is high.
Defensively they put the GLOVE on UF last night .
If JD can find his outside shot, Bama is going to be a problem.
CM and Wimp had some very competitive teams, but I personally think Oats recruiting is stronger than either one of them. The system CNO runs helps his recruiting and the top players give Bama looks now we didn't get under previous coaches. Wimp is a friend of mine and I think he would agree (with a scowl on his face)
Wimp and CM had some astonishingly talented teams. Take a look at some of their lineups.
One of Newton’s teams had three NBA starters-Douglas,Mule King and TR Dunn. The other 2 starters Murray and Brown played in Europe
I was a middle school/high school kid during Wimp Sanderson's run, and already my belief is if we keep Oats around for a decade or more, the results will be the best we've ever had at Bama.
Wimp did totally have it rolling. 12 seasons as head coach, 10 NCAA tournaments, 6 Sweet 16s, and won the SEC tournament 5 times. Pretty dang impressive. His 1986-1987 team to me is still the best team I've seen at Bama including last year's team and our Elite 8 team. They finished 28-5 and had an awesome starting 5 (PG Terry Connor, SG Gottfried, SF Jim Farmer, PF Michael Ansley, and All-American Derrick McKey at Center with future NBA player Keith Askins off the bench). I have hated Billy Donovan forever because he went nuts on us in the NCAA tournament as we went down 101-88 (and Wimp's teams ALWAYS played great defense). Donovan could have tossed it one handed over his shoulder from mid-court and made it 10 times in a row that day.
I remember Wimp's team that had PG Gary Waites, SG James Hollywood Robinson, SF Latrell the Choker Sprewell (he choked his NBA head coach at one point), PF Big Shot Bob Horry, and F Melvin Cheatum, and they could bring in PF Marcus Webb who was built like Shaquille O'neal just 4 inches shorter. So many of Wimp's teams could/should have made it to Elite 8 or Final 4, but for various reasons, it didn't happen.
Wimp and the students also created a similar awesome atmosphere, with Wimp wearing his wild plaid jackets and the students created "the Plaid Palace" and it was a party every time. I still remember North Carolina rolling in with all their studs and Dickie V announcing and loving them, and then we hammered them that whole game.
Oats recruiting is clearly at another level than Wimp's. His was really good I'd guess have us in the top 10-15 classes many years, but you can see Oats is elite. Oats also has Coleman buzzing, and I think we all hope this is finally the man that can kick the athletic department's rump in gear and get a proper arena for this elite program since All Barn, Ole Miss, and others have bypassed us on that front.
I will say a month ago when we mauled UGA in ATL, then the hoops team took down Gonzaga, was as good a sports day as I've had in my life. Let's keep rolling.
Wimp did totally have it rolling. 12 seasons as head coach, 10 NCAA tournaments, 6 Sweet 16s, and won the SEC tournament 5 times. Pretty dang impressive. His 1986-1987 team to me is still the best team I've seen at Bama including last year's team and our Elite 8 team. They finished 28-5 and had an awesome starting 5 (PG Terry Connor, SG Gottfried, SF Jim Farmer, PF Michael Ansley, and All-American Derrick McKey at Center with future NBA player Keith Askins off the bench). I have hated Billy Donovan forever because he went nuts on us in the NCAA tournament as we went down 101-88 (and Wimp's teams ALWAYS played great defense). Donovan could have tossed it one handed over his shoulder from mid-court and made it 10 times in a row that day.
I remember Wimp's team that had PG Gary Waites, SG James Hollywood Robinson, SF Latrell the Choker Sprewell (he choked his NBA head coach at one point), PF Big Shot Bob Horry, and F Melvin Cheatum, and they could bring in PF Marcus Webb who was built like Shaquille O'neal just 4 inches shorter. So many of Wimp's teams could/should have made it to Elite 8 or Final 4, but for various reasons, it didn't happen.
Wimp and the students also created a similar awesome atmosphere, with Wimp wearing his wild plaid jackets and the students created "the Plaid Palace" and it was a party every time. I still remember North Carolina rolling in with all their studs and Dickie V announcing and loving them, and then we hammered them that whole game.
Oats recruiting is clearly at another level than Wimp's. His was really good I'd guess have us in the top 10-15 classes many years, but you can see Oats is elite. Oats also has Coleman buzzing, and I think we all hope this is finally the man that can kick the athletic department's rump in gear and get a proper arena for this elite program since All Barn, Ole Miss, and others have bypassed us on that front.
I will say a month ago when we mauled UGA in ATL, then the hoops team took down Gonzaga, was as good a sports day as I've had in my life. Let's keep rolling.
Bama became the only school to have its football team beat a top 3 team and its basketball team beat a top 3 team on the same day.
JD shot 14% from 3pt and 50% from the FT stripe in EYBL as a prep, so I don’t expect him to be a plus shooter…if he can just become average then that would be a huge boost.
IMO his shakey ball skills are the only reason he isn’t a 1 and done lock. A PG that can’t shoot and isn’t a ball handling wizard is going to be virtually impossible to play in the league.
Coach showed a ton of respect to Wimp at the game where he weared the plaid sport coat. He respects tradition. I suspect Wimp is VERY pleased with the hire . . .
Early 2000’s was the last time I’d say we were really relevant.
The sign of a well coached team is beating a 13.5 point underdog on the road. This is not a well coached team…they play as discombobulated as any team we have ever had. What is sad is we are more talented than the teams we lose to and that for sure is a sign of a poorly coached team and a team without good chemistry.
I do agree at times it does seem the decisions being made are somewhat questionable, but I will say not sure we are more talented. Not a excuse for our bad play, but just feel we are always told how talented we are, but not sure this team is “that talented”. We have some talent, but only JQ, JD, Bediako, Shack and maybe Ellis not sure that this team is that overly talented. Even a couple of those guys might not be as talented as we all think.
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You are probably right…maybe my idea of this team is based on my overly enthusiastic hope of a well coached team. We are probably just a typical NIT caliber squad. Darn it I was hoping for better. Maybe our women’s basketball team will do well!!
I think Coach has done well and thats why we are where we are at. I think he’s done well with the talent we have and we will get better. I don’t think our talent is horrible, but just doesn’t match what we here from talking heads on tv. With that said I do such Coach would use timeouts better. Haha!
Were they poorly coached at Florida Tuesday night or when they beat Gonzaga in Seattle? I see a lack of effort on D too many times and that is on the players.
We are more talented than Iona, Davidson, or Missouri. I don’t think anyone would dispute that.
This team is a 5 seed in the tournament. I think you’re forgetting what our typical NIT teams actually look like.
If we’re a fringe top 25 team we won’t be an 8 seed. Even so… point still stands.
