This weekend, the No. 7-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will host the No. 5-ranked Florida Gators in a blockbuster.
However, this will also be the last home game of Alabama point guard Mark Sears’s college career.
Nate Oates’ Thoughts on Saturday
Alabama head coach Nate Oates recently spoke to the media about the prospect of Saturday night being the final time Sears will suit up in Tuscaloosa.
“It’s our last home game, senior night,” Oates said. “It should be a special night. Especially for Mark (Sears).”
Oates also noted that a win on Saturday would give Sears 80 home wins in his career, an exceptional mark.
The Alabama native and All-American point guard in Sears has been one of the best players in the country during his career. After transferring from Ohio in 2022, he helped the Tide become conference champions in the regular season and postseason in 2023. Then, he led the Tide to a Final Four appearance last season.
Now, he has his eyes set on bringing his school its first-ever national title in basketball.
Mark Sears’ Impressive Numbers
If you think Sears has not been an elite player in the country over the last few years, you haven’t seen his numbers.
The All-SEC guard has averaged at least 19.0 points per game in each of his last two seasons in Tuscaloosa. He also has a career field-goal percentage of 45% and a three-point percentage of 38.2%.
This season, he is averaging a career-best five assists per game and is just six assists away from setting a career-high. He is a true facilitator and competitor who can affect the game from multiple angles.
In this upcoming game against Florida, which will be his curtain call at home, he will have to play like the star that he is. A win would put Alabama in the No. 2 spot just behind the Auburn Tigers in the SEC standings ahead of the SEC Tournament next week in Nashville.
KEEP READING: ‘Analytics Line Up with the Way We Play’ — Nate Oats Confident in Alabama’s Tournament Chances
But win or lose on Saturday, Sears has had an incredible college career that possibly won’t be matched in Alabama for a long, long time.
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