Nate Oats is looking forward to the moment Alabama fans get to see Aden Holloway back on the floor.
The Crimson Tide are set to host Arkansas State at Coleman Coliseum tomorrow night, and Holloway’s return remains one of the biggest storylines around the program. Alabama already handled Sam Houston in convincing fashion on Tuesday, with several new faces making a major imprint, even without Holloway available in the opener because of an ongoing legal issue from the end of last season.
Oats spoke about Holloway earlier today and made it clear he’s been impressed by more than just what the guard brings on the court.
“Holloway’s changed. I can’t wait for you guys to see him as a person, talk to him.”
Oats said. “When you see Aden Holloway and what he’s about, how he talks to you, how he talks to his teammates, how he plays the game of basketball, sometimes how you handle some adversity in life shows a lot more about you and your character than what maybe got you into the adversity in the first place.”
Holloway is expected to resume his place in the Alabama lineup in the near future, and when he does, the Crimson Tide will be getting back a proven scorer and playmaker. Last season, the senior averaged 16.8 points and 3.8 assists per game as Alabama’s second option behind Labaron Philon Jr.
For Oats, the story isn’t just about production. It’s about the person Holloway has become while away from the court.
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Lane Kiffins Alabama Problem Just Got Bigger In The Playoff
Lane Kiffins history against Alabama has become part of the backdrop every time he lines up across from the Crimson Tide, and it is impossible to ignore again with LSU set for a playoff matchup against No. 5 Alabama. As a head coach, Kiffin is 0-5 against Alabama, a run that has followed him through stops at different programs and kept this rivalry from ever feeling routine when his name is on the opposite sideline.
Now the stakes are even higher, with No. 14 LSU entering as the favorite and the result carrying real weight for both Kiffin and Alabamas coaching staff. For Kiffin, it is another chance to change a storyline that has followed him for years. For Alabama, it is the kind of game that can sharpen the scrutiny on every decision if the Tide do not handle business in the playoff setting. [Read more 🡒]
Saban Sees One Alabama Problem That Could Decide LSU Trip
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The challenge now is less about talent than about how Alabama handles the noise and pressure inside Tiger Stadium. Saban stressed the need for mental toughness, maturity and consistency against an LSU defense that can make every mistake feel bigger, and the Tide will have to resist the kind of risky plays that can quickly tilt a road game in the wrong direction. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Is Already Stirring Drama Before Alabama's LSU Test
Lane Kiffin is already adding a little edge to Alabamas trip to Baton Rouge, and not just because LSU is waiting on the other sideline. With the Crimson Tide and Tigers set for a late-afternoon kickoff, Kiffin suggested the SEC put the game in daylight to blunt the usual punch of Tiger Stadium, where LSU tends to feed off its night-game atmosphere.
He also made clear the size of the challenge Alabama presents, calling the Crimson Tide the most talented team LSU has seen this season. So even before the first snap, the stage is set for a test that carries the usual SEC weight and a little extra noise, with kickoff slated for 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET. [Read more 🡒]
