Nate Oats believes Alabama's depth equips it for another Final Four run
CLEVELAND — The depth of the Alabama basketball team was put on full display during the Crimson Tide’s second round NCAA Tournament game against Saint Mary’s on Sunday.
Alabama won the game 80-66, and did so playing three more rotational players than the Gaels did throughout the game. Saint Mary’s played just a 7-man rotation while trying to slow the game down to a halt, while Alabama went 10 deep in an effort to speed the game up and run.
“Yeah, I thought we wore them out, particularly towards the end of the first half. Like you said, they kind of play a seven-man rotation,” Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats said. “If you look at us, we didn’t have anybody over — the most minutes — Labaron (Philon) led us in minutes with 28 and seven seconds, and nobody had over 27 minutes really. And then we played, what, nine guys double-digit minutes. We got a lot of contributors.
“At the end of the first half, they finished the half 1-of-12 from the floor. I thought we kind of wore them out. Then they had to call time-out there in the second half with nine minutes and change, if I’m right. It was probably a smart time-out. He’s coached a lot of games, got to rest his guys, and he got a media time-out a minute later. I thought we were able to get into their lack of depth a little bit, and with the pace that they typically play, I don’t think that ever really affects them.”
The Tide was successful, creating 70 possessions over the course of the game, nearly nine possessions more than the Gaels’ average on the year. Saint Mary’s has only played a 70-possession game two other times all season, while Alabama averages 75 possessions per game.
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“But we looked at possessions, I think the last time they had a 70 — I think they’ve only had two 70-possession games all year, and one was against a non-Division I, and one was against Akron the third game of the year in November,” Oats said. “So we were about to get it to 70, not 80 like we like to get, but against a team like that, you’re kind of winning the tempo war if you can get it to 70. The first team over 80 on them in over 100-plus games.”
Alabama’s depth aids its ability to play fast, being able to constantly keep fresh bodies in the game when fatigue hits the players on the court. It’s also enabled the Tide to sustain injuries throughout the year, as multiple players have dealt with either season-ending or off-and-on injuries that have limited their availabilities.
After the win, Oats was asked if this team’s depth made it even more equipped to make it to the Final Four than last season’s team, which actually did make it there. Oats said yes.
“Yeah, for sure. We’re definitely deeper with more guys available,” Oats said. “Whether it’s injuries, foul trouble, just depth to wear teams out, guys just not playing well and you need somebody else to step up, I definitely think we’ve got it.”
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