Nate Oats drops bold statement on recruits coming on visit during Alabama football games: “We probably shouldn't bring them”
Since taking over Alabama's men's basketball program in 2019, Nate Oats has transformed the Crimson Tide into one of the best teams in the country. Last season, Alabama reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament for the first time in their history.
To further strengthen the squad for the upcoming season, Oats added four players from the transfer portal, including Aden Holloway and four players as part of the recruiting class.
During a press conference on Thursday, Nate Oats talked about how challenging it is for him and his team to recruit new players each year because most recruits are only interested in Alabama to watch football games there.
"We did have the issue, I thought when we got here and I addressed it with our staff there and I've had to address it with new staff coming in that, some guys just want to come watch football game," Nate said.
"So I've kind of made the point, if they're not willing to come on a visit when we don't have a football game, we probably shouldn't bring on a visit during a football game."
Alabama's football team is one of the most successful in NCAA history, with 18 national championships. In the last 10 years, the Crimson Tide has won three titles. So, the football hype around Tuscaloosa is unmatched and no doubt recruits are more drawn to the gridiron than the hardwood.
Nate Oats praises former Alabama football coach Nick Saban for his mentality
Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats praised Crimson Tide's legendary football coach Nick Saban and the way he ran his program.
With the program facing higher expectations than ever, Oats is being extra careful about managing his team's confidence and learning a thing or two from Saban.
"Good thing is, we’ve got coach Saban still on campus,” Nate told On3. "They had a lot of noise around that program for a long time and it seems like he did an unbelievable job getting his guys to focus in without it, so we may have him come speak to the team at some point."
"He had the best term for it, I think he called it rat poison. The more you listen to it, the more you eat the poison, you’re gonna die."
Nate Oats coached the Crimson Tide to a 25-12 record last season and a journey to the Final Four. He has also secured two SEC tournament titles and two SEC regular season championships with Alabama.