Alabama HC Nate Oats discusses high-stakes matchup vs. No. 1 Auburn
When the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers meet on Saturday at Coleman Coliseum, a lot more than in-state bragging rights will be on the line.
Not only will we find out which team is the best basketball team in the state of Alabama, but the winner of this game will effectively be crowned the best team in the country — at least in the weeks leading up to March Madness.
Nate Oat’s No. 2 Alabama team is playing host to No. 1 Auburn, and the Tide’s seven-game winning streak and the No. 1 overall spot in the AP Top 25 is absolutely on the line.
What do you do to prepare for a game of that magnitude? According to Oats, who spoke to the media after his team beat Texas, 103-80, what Alabama has done leading up to this point is all the preparation it takes.
“I think we’ve got a mature group. I know they’ve prepared. We can get into it. The hay’s in the barn, if you will, going into these games. We know what we have to do,” Oats told the media (h/t On3).
Whatever happens on Saturday, Oats was clear that he believes there’s a lot more on the line than just one game between two massive rivals.
“Do we think we’re the best team in the country? I think we’ve got a chance to be, but Auburn’s best team in the country right now,” Oats said. “We gotta knock them out on Saturday if we want to claim to be the best team in the country.”
According to ESPN’s matchup predictor tool, Auburn is favored by this one, but only slightly: 52.4% to 47.6%.
