Nate Oats Explains Alabama Postseason Expectations

For the fifth time in program history, Alabama men's basketball was a two-seed or higher on selection Sunday. The Crimson Tide will play 15-seed Robert Morris at 11:40 a.m. CT on Friday, March 21.

Get our free mobile app

Before Oats got to Alabama, the Crimson Tide had been a two seed just twice in program history. The two seasons came under the two previously most successful head coaches in Alabama basketball history - Wimp Sandeson and Mark Gottfried. With the 2025 two-seed, Oats has earned a two seed or better for Alabama three times in six years - more than all other Alabama basketball coaches combined.

10 years ago, Alabama fans were happy to simply make the NCAA tournament. Now, the expectations have shifted, with Oats expressing that shift in a Sunday evening press conference.

I'm not just happy to be in the NCAA tournament right now. We need to make a run," Oats said Sunday. "Like, getting into the tournament is not good enough. Anything short of a Final Four would be a disappointment, in my opinion."

A bold statement from Oats, whose Alabama squad currently has the fifth best odds to win the NCAA tournament (+1900 odds according to Fanduel Sportsbook). Alabama is in the same region as Duke, the current betting favorite to win the NCAA tournament (+310). The Crimson Tide would have to upset the Blue Devils if Alabama hopes to return to the Final Four.

"That's what the expectation is," Oats said of a trip to San Antonio for the Final Four. "I know we're a two seed, so Elite Eight is supposed to be where it ends. And if we don't play well -- play a lot better than we did in the second half yesterday -- then we won't even make it that far."

"But we're more than capable of making it back to a Final Four and win the games in the Final Four," Oats continued.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.