Nate Oats has undeniably transformed the Alabama basketball program, elevating it to new heights. As we look ahead to the 2026-27 season, the Crimson Tide is on the brink of making its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under Oats' leadership, a feat that would tie the record held by the legendary Wimp Sanderson.
Historically, February has been a challenging month for Alabama basketball, often marked by struggles and uncertainty about NCAA Tournament prospects. This pattern persisted until Nate Oats took the helm.
In his first February, the team experienced some familiar challenges, but since then, the Crimson Tide has averaged just two losses each February. To put that in perspective, the six seasons before Oats saw an average of 4.3 losses during the same month.
Oats' impact is most evident in March, where the Crimson Tide has thrived. Prior to his arrival, Alabama averaged 3.2 postseason games over six seasons. Under Oats, that number has jumped to 5.6 games, with an impressive increase in postseason victories-from an average of 1.3 wins to 4.5 wins per season.
In the NCAA Tournaments from 2021 to 2025, Alabama has amassed more wins than any other SEC team, ranking fifth among all Division One teams. Only Houston, UConn, Gonzaga, and Duke have secured more victories in that span. This success has positioned Alabama ahead of conference rivals like Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn in terms of Big Dance wins.
As the Crimson Tide gears up for another season, fans have every reason to be excited about the potential for more March madness magic. Nate Oats has set a new standard for Alabama basketball, and the future looks incredibly bright.