Nate Oats on getting a win at Auburn: 'I know this was their Super Bowl'

Alabama remained undefeated in a big way Saturday with a victory over Auburn in The Jungle. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats knows how important it was to get that win, too.

Oats acknowledged Auburn’s approach to the rivalry game, especially since College GameDay was there pregame. In honor of the Super Bowl this weekend, he referenced the big game when talking about what it was like leaving Auburn with a victory.

“I know this was their Super Bowl, so it was nice to come over here and get a win,” Oats said, via BamaCentral’s Joey Blackwell.

Alabama defeated Auburn 77-69 thanks to a balanced offensive attack. Four Crimson Tide players scored in double figures and they shot 59.2% from the field as a team, despite a 6-for-21 showing from three-point territory. Rylan Griffen led all scorers with 16 points off the bench.

Nate Oats was frustrated by fouling in first half vs. Auburn

Seven of Alabama’s 10 players that saw the court against Auburn in the first half committed at least one foul. Head coach Nate Oats wasn’t pleased with his team’s nine total fouls — and 12 points that Auburn earned at the charity stripe — and called out his team’s touchy defense for it before heading into the halftime locker room.

“We started to get our pace a little better there toward the end. We’ve got to quit fouling, they’re living at the free-throw line. It’s hard to keep our pace when they’re getting free throws every time down the floor,” Oats told ESPN’s Holly Rowe at the break. “They’ve got a lot of confidence. They’ve played in big games before, so we’re going to answer the bell.

“But we’ve got to come out in the second half and play defense without fouling so we can get out in transition more in the second half.”