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Nate Oats question Alabama players' dedication to preparation

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•about 10 hours•

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Alabama coach Nate Oats
Alabama coach Nate Oats (Will McLelland / USA TODAY Sports)

Alabama put up one of its worst performances of the season Tuesday, losing at home to Ole Miss. Both teams were 3-0 in SEC play heading into the game but the Crimson Tide left with a tough loss on the record. Head coach Nate Oats, at one point, called the team’s effort “disgusting” for the standard he has built.

During his postgame press conference, Oats questioned the players’ dedication to preparing. Alabama is having shorter practices than usual, not wanting to tire throughout the long season. This means players are responsible for getting a little extra work in and being game-ready twice a week.

Oats is not seeing that right now, at least from a couple of players.

“Like I told the whole team, you’ve got to earn the right to play well,” Oats said. “Are you spending enough time in the gym working on your game outside of practice? Or are we having to beg you to get into the gym? Some of these guys have got to get in the gym and work on their game. We’re not going to practice them for three hours a day at this point of the season… You got to deserve to play well. I’m not sure, right now, everyone on our team deserves to play well.”

Multiple leaders have been inside the program for a few years now, mainly Mark Sears. He and Grant Nelson were the key returns from last year’s Final Four run. Oats might be hoping those are two guys who can step up and get the team prepared for what will be a key run in SEC play.

Playing Ole Miss on Tuesday means there will be an extra day before Saturday’s matchup. It’s not going to be an easy one, heading to Rupp Arena for a showdown against Kentucky. Multiple teams in the SEC are playing well at the moment and Mark Pope‘s bunch is certainly one of them.

Getting a win is certainly at the top of Oats’ mind. But he may want to see how Alabama gets ready for the game in the leading days. His fiery comments prove how dissatisfied he is with his players after just one SEC loss.

A big week ahead for the Crimson Tide in the eyes of their head coach.