I was a high school teacher who is now on the brink of March Madness history that Charles Barkley can’t stand
It happened in the blink of an eye. When you think of the University of Alabama, you think of football. Nate Oats has ushered in the most successful era of Alabama basketball in school historyGetty No questions asked. Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, 16 national titles, numerous SEC championships. Alabama is synonymous with college football. However, Nate Oats has positioned the Crimson Tide basketball program into the spotlight over the last few seasons. Football will always be king in the south, especially in Tuscaloosa, but the men’s head basketball coach is on a run that has forced people to pay close attention to the job he has done in the shadow of Saban and the Crimson Tide’s long storied gridiron history. Oats has been Alabama’s head coach for the last six seasons. Since he arrived on campus, he’s taken them to four Sweet 16’s and the only Final Four in program history. He is now two wins away from making it two Final Four appearances in a row. Something that seemed unprecedented before Oats arrived. The Crimson Tide don’t have a rich basketball history, yet Oats has started to change the narrative. Oats led Alabama to its first Final Four in school history last seasonGetty While Barkley bleeds Auburn, he has been gone on the record to say how much he respects the job Oats has done at his rival schoolGetty And for their rivals, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Specifically for hated rival, and Auburn’s own, Charles Barkley. “Let me tell you something, about that guy Coach Oats,” Barkley said on an ESPN broadcast in February. “I hated him when he came to the SEC because I’ve been watching three or four college games a day for the last two months, getting ready for March Madness. “I was watching those Buffalo teams play, and I was like, ‘Man, that guy can really coach.’ “And then, when the Alabama job opened up, I was like, ‘Man, I sure hope Coach Oats don’t get that job.'” March Madness Top Stories Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson ‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance March Madness legends who are still balling in NBA today – from Steph Curry to Ja Morant NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment Prior to Alabama, Oats was the head coach at Buffalo. Before that, he was teaching math at Romulus High School where he also served as the head basketball coach for over ten years. And in the blink of an eye, from high school math to Final Four’s, he is once again on the precipice of greatness. Barkley knew it when Alabama hired Oats, that he would be successful. “He got the job, and the rest is history,” Barkley said. “Getting those guys to the Final Four was incredible.” How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years. talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service. Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now. Alabama takes on BYU with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line and just two wins away from cutting down the nets (again), and three away from a national title. While football will always come first in Tuscaloosa, if Oats is able to get them back to the Final Four, the spotlight may just have to be shared from now on.
It happened in the blink of an eye.
When you think of the University of Alabama, you think of football.
No questions asked.
Bear Bryant, Nick Saban, 16 national titles, numerous SEC championships.
Alabama is synonymous with college football.
However, Nate Oats has positioned the Crimson Tide basketball program into the spotlight over the last few seasons.
Football will always be king in the south, especially in Tuscaloosa, but the men’s head basketball coach is on a run that has forced people to pay close attention to the job he has done in the shadow of Saban and the Crimson Tide’s long storied gridiron history.
Oats has been Alabama’s head coach for the last six seasons.
Since he arrived on campus, he’s taken them to four Sweet 16’s and the only Final Four in program history.
He is now two wins away from making it two Final Four appearances in a row.
Something that seemed unprecedented before Oats arrived.
The Crimson Tide don’t have a rich basketball history, yet Oats has started to change the narrative.
And for their rivals, it’s a tough pill to swallow.
Specifically for hated rival, and Auburn’s own, Charles Barkley.
“Let me tell you something, about that guy Coach Oats,” Barkley said on an ESPN broadcast in February.
“I hated him when he came to the SEC because I’ve been watching three or four college games a day for the last two months, getting ready for March Madness.
“I was watching those Buffalo teams play, and I was like, ‘Man, that guy can really coach.’
“And then, when the Alabama job opened up, I was like, ‘Man, I sure hope Coach Oats don’t get that job.'”
March Madness Top Stories
Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson
‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance
March Madness legends who are still balling in NBA today – from Steph Curry to Ja Morant
NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever
Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment
Prior to Alabama, Oats was the head coach at Buffalo.
Before that, he was teaching math at Romulus High School where he also served as the head basketball coach for over ten years.
And in the blink of an eye, from high school math to Final Four’s, he is once again on the precipice of greatness.
Barkley knew it when Alabama hired Oats, that he would be successful.
“He got the job, and the rest is history,” Barkley said.
“Getting those guys to the Final Four was incredible.”
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
Alabama takes on BYU with a trip to the Elite 8 on the line and just two wins away from cutting down the nets (again), and three away from a national title.
While football will always come first in Tuscaloosa, if Oats is able to get them back to the Final Four, the spotlight may just have to be shared from now on.
