Hey Coach, Nate Oats Talks Crimson Tide Against Purdue
"Hey Coach" moves to Monday nights as the sports season shifts into its winter and spring calendar. The Crimson Tide Sports Network hosts a weekly talk show featuring Alabama coaches and athletes that are in season at Baumhowers Victory Grille next to campus.
This week's edition was hosted by Chris Stewart and features a focus on the Alabama men's and women's basketball program. The men's program is coming off a loss.
Sarah Ashlee Barker joined Chris Stewart and the pair discussed her season so far for the women's program. She's averaging 15.2 points per game for the Tide as they've gotten off to a 10-2 start.
Coach Kristy Curry joined Stewart next and emphasized her team's ability to take so many new players and integrate them and mold into a unit so quickly. She pointed to Essence Cody and Naomi Jones as new players to watch along with transfer Jessica Timmons from N.C. State.
Stewart and Curry said goodbye as they encouraged fans to go to early church on Sunday and come to the Tide's next home game. Alabama's women will play Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday at noon in Coleman Coliseum.
Coach Nate Oats joined Stewart next to talk about the loss to Purdue. He started by pointing out the foul disparity between the Alabama front-court and the Purdue front-court, factoring in 7-foot-4 Zach Eddy. He harped on the defense and the major run the Boilermakers went on to flip the game in the second half.
Oats lamented his team's free throw conversion and thought the Tide could play that game again and win, which is important considering Alabama's next two games against Creighton and Arizona.
"We've been exposed a little bit, our guys know what we need to work on and we're working on it," said Oats.
Why has the defense been such a work in progress through nine games this year?
"We didn't start on the defense until official practice started, we're probably a little bit behind there, actually there's no probably about it, we are," said Oats.
Oats took time to highlight the similarities between the Crimson Tide and the Creighton Bluejays style of play. He took time to highlight Creighton's rim-protection and Alabama's need to take smart shots on offense.
Alabama will head to Arizona after that to play the No. 1 Wildcats where they'll see former Crimson Tide guard Jaden Bradley and talented transfer Caleb Love.
The basketball program is going through a challenging non-conference schedule and is right in the thick of it at the moment. Ideally Alabama can get back on the winning track and build momentum for conference play.
"Hey Coach" moved to Monday nights at 6 p.m. CT for the remainder of the academic year and can be heard wherever Crimson Tide Sports Network is aired.
