For the fourth time in five years, Alabama head coach Nate Oats has his program in the Sweet 16 with a real chance to make the Final Four for a second straight season. On Thursday night, Alabama will face No. 6 seed BYU, with an Elite Eight birth on the line.
After facing a St. Mary’s team in the Round of 32 that plays with one of the slowest tempos in the country, the Crimson Tide will face a Cougars side that plays much more like what Oats is used to.
“I don’t know that I want to say it’s refreshing to go against somebody that plays like us, because I think we’re really tough to guard,” Oats said. “We’ve led the country in scoring the last two years. I don’t think anybody’s saying it’s refreshing to play Alabama, whoever’s running the defense for the other team.”
Oats also mentioned the type of physicality that will be displayed while also praising BYU’s electric offense.
“Maybe it’s not such a Smash Mouth game, like not playing football out there, like some of these teams,” Oats said. “But they’re not easy to cover. Like, I mean, he’s (BYU head coach Kevin Young) running great sets. They’ve got shooters all over the place…So we’re gonna have to really lock in, and coaches are gonna have to really do a good job getting our guys ready, and our guys are gonna have to execute whatever the plan is that we decide to put in, and we’re gonna have to make adjustments to it, because I’m sure he’ll make adjustments.”
Oats is excited about the opportunity and the challenge.
“I’m looking forward to playing in the Sweet 16,” Oats said. “First time in school history we’ve been to three straight sweet sixteens. But I would not use the word refreshing to play against an offense like BYU has. It’s probably not the correct word.”