In a crushing NCAA Tournament loss to the Duke Blue Devils, Alabama Basketball’s high-octane offense hit a wall. The Crimson Tide were held to just 65 points after putting up 113 against BYU in the Sweet 16 — a stunning drop that exposed a lingering issue Nate Oats is determined to fix.
Duke’s elite length and defensive discipline stifled Alabama’s rhythm. Coach Oats didn’t sugarcoat it: “They’ve got length all over the place,” he admitted after the game. And the numbers don’t lie — Alabama shot a disappointing 35.4% from the field and just 25% from beyond the arc.
The Talent Gap: Alabama vs. the Blue Bloods
While Alabama has risen to national prominence under Oats, competing for a championship still requires matching up against the blue bloods — not just in coaching and system, but in pure talent. Duke had five players drafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, including Cooper Flagg (No. 1), Kon Knueppel (No. 4), and Khaman Maluach (No. 10).
Alabama? Zero draft picks.
Maluach, a 7’2″ defensive menace with a 9’8” standing reach, didn’t light up the stat sheet — just two blocks — but he altered countless shots and made a major impact with 14 points and nine rebounds. Alabama’s Clifford Omoruyi, by comparison, managed only four points and two boards.
And it wasn’t just Duke. Alabama also got blown out by 16 to UConn in the 2024 tournament and by 22 to eventual champion Florida in the 2025 SEC Tournament. The takeaway? Alabama’s system is sound — but when faced with elite size and talent, it faltered.
Nate Oats’ Response: Reload with Size and Skill
Oats isn’t backing down. Instead, he’s reshaping the Crimson Tide roster to address the glaring issue: length.
The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 5 nationally by 247Sports — the best in the SEC. Duke may be No. 1, but Alabama’s class, bolstered by three 4-star transfers, is loaded with upside. Even more promising? Oats has brought in serious size.
The 2025-26 roster features three players at 6’10” and two at 7’0″, with ten players standing 6’4” or taller. No more undersized matchups — the Tide are building to battle with the giants.
The Big Picture
Over the past three seasons, Alabama has fallen short against championship-caliber teams in critical moments. But the program’s trajectory under Nate Oats remains undeniably upward.
He’s taken Alabama from a respected contender to a program knocking on the door of greatness. Now, he’s adding the one piece that’s been missing: the physical tools to win in March.
Will it be enough to finally push Alabama to that elusive first national title?
The answer lies ahead, but one thing is clear: Nate Oats isn’t just aiming to compete with the blue bloods anymore — he’s building a team to beat them.
