Alabama head coach Nate Oats reminded his players of the importance of staying focused on basketball, rather than getting caught up in extracurricular fights during a pre-game interview.
Oats, who coached at Romulus High School in Michigan, shared a personal experience from a past brawl with Belleville. He emphasized that winning is not just about scoring points, but also about maintaining sportsmanship and avoiding unnecessary conflicts.
“We’re not interested in winning a boxing match or a wrestling match,” Oats said. “We need to beat them on the scoreboard. Let’s win the basketball game.”
This upcoming matchup between Alabama and Auburn is expected to be intense, with both teams ranked high in the AP polls. The rivalry already has a strong presence of tension, but Oats’ message serves as a reminder that winning is not just about the final score, but also about conduct on and off the court.
The highly anticipated game takes place this Saturday at Coleman Coliseum, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. ESPN will broadcast the matchup.
Source: https://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/2025/02