Alabama head coach Nate Oats secured a hard-fought victory against John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks. However, he wasn’t entirely pleased with his team’s performance. Despite controlling most of the game, the Crimson Tide nearly let a big lead slip away. After the contest, Oats shared his frustrations and respect for Calipari.
Nate Oats Respects John Calipari After Alabama’s Win Over Arkansas
Following the win, Oats’ praised Calipari:
“I think he’s one of the best motivators – he’s one of, if not the best recruiter in the history of college basketball. … I’ve always respected him.”
Calipari’s reputation as a recruiter and motivator is well-known, and Oats acknowledged his impact on the game. Alabama came away with an 85-81 victory, extending their winning streak to six games and improving to 20-3 on the season.
However, their inability to close out the game cleanly left Oats frustrated. The Crimson Tide led by 18 points with just over six minutes remaining, but Arkansas made a late push, cutting the lead to just three.
Alabama Faces a Tough Schedule Ahead
Oats addressed the team’s struggles in his postgame comments, saying:
“A lot of credit to Arkansas for not quitting. They fought. They stayed in it. Took an 18-point lead with 12 to go or so and cut that thing to three there late. I thought our guys did a decent job of closing once they cut it to three, we were able to get that put-back and made a couple free throws. But we gotta do a better job closing.”
He made it clear that nearly losing wasn’t acceptable. He also said, “We risked losing a road game that we were supposed to by not closing that thing like we were supposed to. So a lot of credit to them.”
KEEP READING: Why Did Nate Oats Bench Mark Sears?
While Alabama remains one of the top teams in the country, the road ahead is challenging. Their next game was against Texas (103-80 win), followed by a difficult stretch against ranked opponents, including No. 1 Auburn, No. 21 Missouri, No. 15 Kentucky, No. 22 Mississippi State, No. 5 Tennessee, No. 3 Florida, and another meeting with No. 1 Auburn.
Oats knows his team must improve if they want to maintain their position as a top contender. With tougher opponents on the horizon, closing out games properly will be crucial for Alabama’s success.
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