Latest Nate Oats News
Scott Drew staying as Baylor's coach after being mentioned as John Calipari's successor at Kentucky
WACO, Texas (AP) — Scott Drew will remain as Baylor's men's basketball coach, stating his desire to "bring more championships" to the program on social media after being linked to the Kentucky coaching vacancy following John Calipari's departure to Arkansas. Drew mentioned his...
Alabama falls to the UConn machine in the Final Four, but the Tide certainly made it fun for a while
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Alabama's Grant Nelson drove the lane before winding up and throwing down a poster-worthy dunk over 7-foot-2 Donovan Clingan in the second half, defying conventional wisdom by challenging the big man at the rim. No, the Crimson Tide weren't good enough to...
Led by Castle and Clingan, defending champ UConn returns to NCAA title game, beating Alabama 86-72
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The final result showed UConn winning its 11th straight NCAA Tournament game by at least 13 points. The reality: The Huskies were tested unlike any other time during their run toward a possible second straight national title. UConn kept its...
High schools to high majors: Final Four includes 3 coaches with roots in high school
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The longer Nate Oats coached at Romulus High School outside of Detroit, the more comfortable he felt with his position in the coaching hierarchy. Oats had always pictured himself as a Division I college coach, yet he had built a top-tier program at Romulus...
Crimson Tide trying to slow down the UConn juggernaut in the Final Four
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Alabama coach Nate Oats had to rebuild his roster and replace three assistant coaches. The pieces ended up fitting perfectly. The fast-and-furious Crimson Tide were among one of the nation's best offenses all season and rolled into the program's first Final...
Alabama's Aaron Estrada finishes 5-year, 4-school odyssey with Final Four trip, NIL money
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Aaron Estrada said he walked onto the basketball floor at State Farm Stadium in awe on Thursday morning, staring up at more than 60,000 seats that should be packed when the Alabama guard plays in the Final Four on Saturday night. The experience — which he...
Final Four serves up the usual menu of fun stories -- and UConn looks to snuff out all of them
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Final Four this week delivers the last entry in college basketball's heartwarming yearbook, an annual assortment of legendary longshots, coaches looking for hugs and magic oozing from every corner of the bracket. Only problem with the 2024 version: UConn...
Final Four opponents Dan Hurley of UConn and Nate Oats of Alabama have deep ties
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Connections are renewed at the Final Four every year. Coaches who played or coached at one of the other schools on opposite sidelines. Players facing a former team or coach. Assistant coaches who were on previous staffs together at the same site. ...
Once overlooked, point guard Mark Sears has carried Alabama to its first Final Four
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Nate Oats admits it: He whiffed on Mark Sears out of high school. It’s OK, though. So did every other major college coach. It is why Alabama’s undersized, high-scoring point guard wound up at Ohio University before finally getting a chance...
Tall Final Four task: Beating reigning champion UConn will not be an easy task in the desert
The 2024 version of March Madness has apexed with a trio of streak busters in the desert. N.C. State is in the Final Four for the first time since Jim Valvano ran around trying to find someone to hug after the 1983 national championship. Purdue and big man Zach Edey will make their...
