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Nate Oats reveals why Mark Sears did not return against Illinois
By Mark Kern
Published:
Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide picked up a big win on Wednesday night, as they knocked off Illinois 100-87 in the C.M. Newton Classic in Birmingham.
The Crimson Tide were able to get the victory despite star guard Mark Sears not playing the final 11:27 of the game. However, it wasn’t an injury that kept him out, but rather the star guard telling Oats that it wasn’t his night and to keep his teammates in the game.
Nate Oats confirms what Grant Nelson just said on After Dark.
Mark Sears knew it wasn’t his night, his teammates were playing well and he took himself out of the game.
“He just told me to leave him out when I tried to put him back in,” Oats told @TheFieldOf68
Really…
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 21, 2024
“He just told me to leave him out when I tried to put him back in,” Oats said.
The Alabama coach wasn’t the only person to say this about Sears, but his teammate Grant Nelson also said the same thing on the After Dark podcast.
“Mark (Sears) realized other guys were playing well and told Coach Oats to sub him out. It just shows his leadership, to let those young guys come in and hoop. That was all him” – Grant Nelson
After Dark is LIVE ⬇️https://t.co/47iorf61xr pic.twitter.com/jqeuzAvYsp
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) November 21, 2024
“Mark (Sears) realized other guys were playing well and told Coach Oats to sub him out,” Nelson said. “It just shows his leadership, to let those young guys come in and hoop. That was all him.”
Sears was 0-5 from the floor in 21 minutes, but 4 other players scored at least 16 points. Nelson led the way with 23 points, while freshman guard Labaron Philon finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists.
Alabama will be back in action on Nov. 26 when the Crimson Tide take on No. 7 Houston.
