"It's gonna be special": Nate Oats hypes best-ever roster as Alabama honors first Final Four in grand ceremony
Alabama fans' excitement for coach Nate Oats' 2024-25 roster comes after the feat achieved by the previous season's crew. Not only did Crimson Tide earn a ticket to the NCAA tournament but it also made reached its first Final Four, losing to eventual champions UConn Huskies.
At The Next Round podcast, Oats talked about the significance of the Final Four banner handing in the Coleman Coliseum arena. The ceremony will take place this weekend, with plenty of entertainment and rewards planned for fans.
"It's gonna be special," he said. "They've never had a Final Four team here before.
"We've had some very loyal fans and they've deserved a Final Four. The program has been knocking on the door various times throughout the course of Alabama basketball and we finally got one."
Nevertheless, Nate Oats also directed the Crimson Tide basketball fans to focus on the challenge at hand.
"It'll be special to think about what we were able to accomplish, but it will also be nice to raise the banner and flip the script to start focusing on this year," he added.
Oats believes that his roster is the most talented team he has ever lined up at Crimson Tide. The loss to UConn served as a huge experience for Alabama's veteran players.
Moreover, the program has one of the best 2024 freshman classes, adding depth to its roster.
What is the itinerary of Alabama basketball's banner and scrimmage day?
The Final Four banner reveal will take place in Coleman Coliseum on Friday, but that's not all. The day will also present a 3-point contest, dunk contest and an exclusive interview with Nate Oats.
To end the day, the 2024-25 Alabama roster will suit up for a competitive scrimmage. The doors will open at 7:30 p.m., and public ticketholders will be allowed entry at 8 p.m.
- 8:30 p.m.: Player introductions and 3-point contest
- 8:50 p.m.: Dunk contest
- 9:05 p.m.: Final Four banner and ring reveal
- 9:10 p.m.: Nate Oats interview
- 9:20 p.m. : Scrimmage
The 2,000 fans to enter the arena will be gifted a replica of the banner and a program themed Final Four poster.