"We're trying to stay ahead of the curve": Nate Oats eyes Alabama's championship dream in the upcoming season
Nate Oats has his sights on the coveted national championship for the 2024-25 season. He led Alabama men's basketball to its best finish last season, as they made the Final Four for the first time.
In an exclusive interview with Bama247, Oats showed how keen he is to raise the bar for the upcoming season. He said the Crimson Tide are looking to stay ahead of the competition under his watch.
"We're trying to stay ahead of the curve because everyone is trying to catch us" said Oats. "We've won more championships in the league than anyone since I've been here; people try to copy that."
Nate Oats emphasizes the importance of a strong roster
Prior to the 2023-24 season, Oats led the Crimson Tide to an SEC regular season and SEC Tournament double and made the Sweet Sixteen in March Madness.
The backbone of Oats' success was his roster, which included the likes of consensus Second-Team All-American Mark Sears. Oats believed the importance of a strong roster is paramount for any college basketball team to compete for top honors.
He said:
"With the way it works in today's college athletics, the whole thing can change in a year. From a great roster to no roster at all. It's somewhat satisfying to see your work rewarded to the level we've gotten this program to in the last five years, but we've still got too much work to do to revel in what little success we've had."
Nate Oats has left no stone unturned in preparing the Crimson Tide for the 2024-25 season. The program's 2024 signing class ranks third in the country and second in the SEC, further highlighting how much Oats values a strong roster.
In terms of high school commits, the Crimson Tide signed four top-50 prospects. Center Aiden Sherrell, point guard Labaron Philon and small forwards Derrion Reid and Naas Cunningham are all four-star prospects who signed for the Crimson Tide within the last year.
The Crimson Tide also picked four-star players from the transfer portal, including 6'11" Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi and Auburn combo guard Aden Holloway.
Nate Oats' Crimson Tide have been touted as preseason favorites to win the NCAA Tournament for the first time. They will begin their season on November 4 with a home game against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.