Nick Saban hilariously calls out Jay Bilas for ruining his NCAA Tournament bracket

Alabama coach Nick Saban called out ESPN’s Jay Bilas for ruining his bracket picks during March Madness. But it was all in good fun of course.

Basically Saban listened to Bilas, maybe too much, when he filled out his bracket for the 2023 NCAA Tournament. In fact, the legendary football coach called Bilas out on a simple pick regarding Utah State.

He did so earlier in the week, in a video that was played on ESPN College GameDay on Saturday.

Coach Saban had some words for @JayBilas after ruining his bracket 😂 pic.twitter.com/DqWEvXDVKU

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) March 25, 2023

“Can somebody tell Jay Bilas that I listened to his basketball picks and he completely messed up my whole bracket?” Saban said. “I picked every team—he said Utah State’s really good, they got beat right off the bat. And there’s no consequence for him.”

Then, Bilas jokingly fired back.

“Why is he listening to that rat poison?” Bilas said, referencing Saban’s popular catchphrase. “I cannot help Nick Saban if he’s gonna listen to that rat poison.”

As it relates to Alabama, maybe Saban picked his colleague Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide to go all the way. However, the No. 1 overall seed fell to San Diego State in the Sweet 16.

With all of the No. 1 seeds out, it was quite difficult to predict the current Elite Eight. UConn is the favorite amongst the remaining squads.

Nick Saban clarifies comments regarding Alabama basketball

Saban utilized the phrase “there’s no such thing as wrong place, wrong time.”

However, Saban denied his comments were a direct response to Nate Oats’ comments earlier this year regarding star freshman Brandon Miller’s alleged legal situation. Comments, he later apologized for.

“There’s nothing to clarify,” Saban said. “I don’t watch basketball coaches’ press conferences. I’ve never watched a basketball — in how many years have I been coaching, you know? Never watched one. Never listen to what other people say. That was strictly about our program and what we do. Had nothing to do with anybody else. I don’t make any comments about anybody else and we hope the basketball team does really, really well.”

Oats was a fan, like Miller, of Saban showing up to practice. It was all in good faith and there seems to be no ongoing controversy between the programs.

“He came yesterday to speak to the team,” Oats said. “He was good. Players loved it. He and I have got a great relationship, and I’m really thankful for the support that he has given us and continues to give us with the basketball program at Alabama.”

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