Nate Oats shares his message to Alabama freshmen ahead of first road game

In what will be a grueling nonconference schedule for Alabama, Nate Oats sends his team to the toughest environment of them all first. Mackey Arena and the Purdue Boilermakers will host the Crimson Tide on Friday night, setting up a top-15 showdown. While Oats has plenty of veterans on the roster, a few key players are in their first season of college basketball.

Playing in Mackey Arena will be unlike anything the Alabama freshman have seen. Oats was asked what his message to them was before traveling to West Lafayette, sending a challenge to them.

“We tell them the environment’s gonna be great,” Oats said. “We know it,” Oats said. “I also told them this morning in video, the toughest competitors I’ve ever coached have been at their best in the toughest environments.”

Oats even brought examples to the table, speaking from experience the last couple of seasons. Alabama is no stranger to a tough environment when playing against SEC foes. And at times, players have stepped up to the occasion to earn a much-needed victory.

“Referenced Brandon Miller in South Carolina a couple years ago,” Oats said. “Look at our guys that have played well at Auburn, our guys that have played well on the road. Look at what (Noah) Clowney did late against Arkansas, what Brandon did late against them.

“If you want to be a competitor, it’s a lot easier to be a frontrunner and look great at home when the crowd’s behind you. The real competitors show up on the road.”

Both Miller and Clowney are now in the NBA but were a part of Alabama’s 2022-2023 SEC regular season and tournament championship team. Of the six losses that year, just two of them were on the road (Oklahoma and Tennessee). Oats mentioned the Arkansas and Auburn wins but a place like Houston was no easy test to pass either.

Fast forwarding back to this season, Labaron Philon and Derrion Reid have been the two freshmen with the most impact thus far. Aiden Sherrell has been a great backup at the center position too.

If their number is called at some point against Purdue, Oats expects them to be ready to compete.