WATCH: Nate Oats previews Alabama basketball vs Oklahoma in SEC opener
Alabama basketball (11-2) and undefeated Oklahoma (13-0) tip off at 5 p.m. CT in Coleman Coliseum. What Nate Oats said about the Top 10 matchup.
Alabama basketball has been one of the country’s top teams since the preseason, but the Crimson Tide has yet to play its best basketball.
It’ll get that much harder come Saturday, when UA (11-2) tips off its league schedule against undefeated Oklahoma in Coleman Coliseum.
The SEC had a remarkable season in non-conference play. Alabama has eight games in January. Five are against opponents ranked in the Top 25.
Should UA want to emerge as the SEC champion it was predicted to be in the preseason, the Crimson Tide has three pressing issues on which to hunker down, according to coach Nate Oats:
Nate Oats drilling for better defense, more from Cliff Omoruyi
“Obviously, the biggest room for improvement is on the defensive side of the ball,” Oats said on Friday. “Our defense isn’t where it needs to be.”
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He wants to see players take more “individual pride” on defense and keep opposing guys out of the lane. Despite having additions like Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi and freshman Aiden Sherrell on the roster to help Grant Nelson out in the No. 5 spot, Oats thinks UA’s rim protection could still “stand to get better,” too.
Oats called out Omouryi, saying UA needed him to “dominate” and be its “big-time rim protector” down the stretch.
“I don’t know that he’s ever going to be in the best shape on the team to play the most minutes, but I think he’s figuring the pace out better. Mentally, he’s able to process a little quicker than he was earlier just because he wasn’t used to playing this pace,” Oats said.
Shot makers need to step up to survive SEC
“On the offensive side of the ball, 3-point percentage is the biggest thing that jumps out,” Oats said.
Traditionally, players have been given the green light any time they get a look from deep. Shooting 31.7% of 3s on the season − next to last in the stat category among teams in the Nate Oats era − UA’s offense has to find better shots to take.
Oats added that UA has to “get the right guys” taking more 3s.
“I think [Mark] Sears started out the year struggling, and he’s improved quite a bit,” Oats said. “I think he’s done a better job making sure he’s shot ready and taking good shots.”
Oats thinks the team will see a “jump” in the stats, but it starts with figuring out things like which guys are better suited for catch-and-shoots, stepping into shots or splashing off the dribble.
Can Alabama basketball overcome double-digit turnovers consistently?
Alabama’s eagerness to get the ball off for 3 tends come at a cost.
Misfired passes and struggles with ball security saw UA start conference play averaging 12.8 turnovers per game. That was after a season low six turnovers against South Dakota State.
Oats said turnovers has been an “issue up until then,” but the Jackrabbits were also lesser competition compared to what Alabama has lined up in SEC play.
Looking at steals per game for the teams UA will meet in January, it may be too soon to say the issue has been resolved.
Entering the second half of the season, Oklahoma averaged 9.5 steals per game, while South Carolina averaged 4.9, Texas A&M and Ole Miss averaged over 10, Kentucky and Vanderbilt averaged around seven and LSU averaged nearly eight.
Time will tell how the Crimson Tide responds as it weathers its toughest battles over the next few months.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
