Nate Oats compares Alabama’s performance vs. LSU to Mark Sears’ other scoreless game

Nate Oats saw this movie before: a scoreless Mark Sears game but an Alabama win on the court.

The Crimson Tide head coach was asked to compare the games: Saturday’s win over LSU and a November win over Illinois where Sears was held scoreless in both contests. Sears didn’t play the entire second half against the Tigers.

However, Oats noted Alabama was better on offense against the Fighting Illini, despite winning both games.

“I think it was. I thought that Illinois game, though, we were actually really good on offense,” Oats said postgame. “The ball was moving, had a lot of assists. If you go look at our better offensive productions against good defenses – you guys all got access to KenPom and can see where Illinois’ defense is ranked – they’ve got one of the better defenses in the country. If you go look at our efficiency numbers that game, the ball was really moving well. 

“Tonight, it wasn’t moving as well as we needed it to. I thought there was way too many bad rim reads. I didn’t think we were great on offense tonight. It’s similar where we did have to get more scoring from elsewhere. Tonight. we did get to the free-throw line a little bit. Got to the O boards. We figured it out.”

Nate Oats has seen this movie before

Others stepped up for Oats and Alabama Saturday against their SEC foe. But it was timely defense in the second half to win 80-73. The game was tied 40-40 going into halftime.

“I mean, our defense essentially won the game, though, really. I mean, our offense was good enough to win, but our defense won us this game. Where I did think, against Illinois, our defense wasn’t bad, but our offense won that game, if you go look. I mean, our defense, that was a good game. That was one of the better games we played all year. But the ball moved. We had guys stepped up, scored it when Mark wasn’t able to find his kind of scoring rhythm. But yeah, I mean, there’s a couple games now where he hasn’t been able to score, but we can just keep at it.”

Oats and Alabama are back in action Wednesday on the road vs. No. 14 Mississippi State. Perhaps Sears can bounce back like he did after the Illinois game. Following that contest, he put up 24 points in an 85-80 win over Houston.