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Nate Oats pays homage to iconic Loyola Marymount team after 3-point explosion vs. BYU
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Nate Oats met with reporters on Thursday night following Alabama’s historic win over BYU in the Sweet 16.
Oats, of course, was asked about his team’s historic night from beyond the arc. The Crimson Tide went a staggering 25-of-51 from 3-point range, breaking the single-game record for most 3-pointers by 1 team in an NCAA Tournament game. That record was set previously held by Loyola Marymount, who sunk 21 3-pointers in a game back in 1990.
That Loyola Marymount team was decades ahead of its time relative to the rest of college basketball. The Lions played at a frenetic pace that even Alabama hasn’t attempted to match — but Oats did acknowledge some inspiration from those Paul Westhead-led teams.
“I loved watching them play,” Oats said after Alabama’s 113-88 win over BYU on Thursday. “That was my freshman year of high school that year. I remember Bo Kimble shooting left-handed free throws in honor of Hank [Gathers]. I loved watching them play. They got up and down. [They’re] maybe part of the reason we coach the way we coach. It’s a little more fun that way.”
Alabama leads the nation in pace under Oats and is one of the better shot-making teams in the country, too. Thursday night’s effort showed just how dangerous the Crimson Tide can be when they’re hitting shots.
Alabama will put its style to the test on Saturday night against Duke with a spot in the Final Four on the line.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
