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Nate Oats receives major criticism after Alabama bows out of NCAA Tournament
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Nate Oats was on the receiving end of significant criticism following Alabama’s 71-64 loss to San Diego State in the Sweet 16 on Friday night.
The Crimson Tide entered the tournament as the top seed in the field, but exit the Big Dance in the Sweet 16 for the 2nd time in 3 seasons. It’s a disappointing result after Alabama was considered the No. 1 team in the country for much of the season.
Alabama led SDSU by as many as 9 points in the 2nd half, but collapsed down the stretch. Between 11:40 and 2:12 in the 2nd half, the Aztecs turned a 9-point deficit into a 9-point lead.
Media and fans were quick to notice Oats’ timeout usage — or lack thereof — during that stretch, which was a 23-5 run in favor of San Diego State.
Oats, in general, hasn’t had much postseason success as Alabama’s head coach. The Crimson Tide were upset in the 1st round last year and lost in the Sweet 16 as a No. 2 seed in 2021.
Here’s the best of the criticism for Oats after Alabama’s loss:
San Diego State went on a 23-5 scoring run and Alabama is sitting there with 3 timeouts left.
That's awful coaching by Nate Oats.
— Connor O'Gara (@cjogara) March 25, 2023
Two Sweet 16 clunkers in three years for Nate Oats with teams that could have gone to the Final Four or beyond. It’s officially a thing.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) March 25, 2023
Nate Oats is saving those timeouts for the next game.
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) March 25, 2023
Nate Oats is a Sweet 16 coach at best. Alabama will continue to never make a Final 4.
— BigBarnerBrand ? (@BigBarnerBrand) March 25, 2023
I love how Nate Oats has just sat there with his 3 timeouts as his team completely falls apart
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) March 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/DannyDa27021564/status/1639429542191169536?s=20
nate oats and i have called the same number of timeouts this half
— KP (@kj_paul) March 25, 2023
Does Nate Oats this he can carryover his timeouts to use next season? Just let the season slip away because you don’t feel like coaching.
— McK of the Year (@slothneverdies) March 25, 2023
Nate Oats got what he deserved for fouling down 2 with 45 seconds left.
— Greg Frank (@g_frank6) March 25, 2023
Nate Oats saving his two timeouts for the 2023-24 season
— Connor Pelton (@ConnorPelton28) March 25, 2023
Alabama lost an NCAA tournament game to a Mountain West team. This will cause irreversible damage that will set SEC basketball back for decades. Thanks for everything Nate Oats.
— Andrew Riordan (@AndrewRiordan7) March 25, 2023
Nate Oats has still has never been to an elite 8
— David Marts (@DavidMarts13) March 25, 2023
Why did Nate Oats foul???
— Detroit Griot (@JustCallmeBHunt) March 25, 2023
You foul an 80% free throw shooter then immediately come launch a contested 3?
Nate Oats is a moron.
— Big Easy Bets? (@BigEasyBets) March 25, 2023
Nate Oats could learn a thing or two about timeout usage from this game
— Ñic Gulas (@Nic_Gulas) March 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/HowTheProsDo/status/1639429284010815489
Nate Oats bringing these timeouts home with him to snuggle on the couch. Absolute used car salesman as a coach
— ? (@enjoyer_sports) March 25, 2023
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
