LOOK: Nick Saban makes surprise appearance at Alabama basketball practice
Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban knows a thing or two or seven about winning national championships. However, this March, it’s the basketball program that is expected to make a championship run.
As the basketball team prepares for the Sweet Sixteen, Saban decided to show up at practice to show his support for the program.
Look at Nick Saban visiting the Alabama basketball practice, here:
It looked like Nick Saban was having a good time with the team in the pictures. Hopefully, for Alabama, Saban was able to provide some wisdom as they get down into the crunch of March Madness.
This isn’t the first time Nick Saban has interacted with the basketball program, either. Back when Alabama first became the top-ranked team, he reached out to Nate Oats to offer some advice — it doesn’t mean anything in the middle of the season. It only matters at the end.
Alabama is going to play San Diego State in the Sweet Sixteen. In that game, the Crimson Tide are a 6.5-point favorite to win. Meanwhile, analyst Jay Bilas thinks that Alabama is the obvious choice to win the region thanks to several upsets.
Ahead of the game, head coach Nate Oats has praised the Aztecs, saying, “So I know San Diego State’s defense is elite. That’s what I’ve been told by our staff. Furman is a really good team and they shook Furman out; so we’re going to have to spend a lot of time prepping for them.”
Fans thought that Nick Saban took a shot at Nate Oats
Alabama defensive back Tony Mitchell was recently arrested. Shortly thereafter, Nick Saban suspended him from the team. When asked about this, Saban said there is “no such thing” as being in the “wrong place at the wrong time.”
Whether he meant it that way or not, many people thought it seemed like a shot at basketball coach Nate Oats. That’s because of the controversy that has been surrounding the basketball program for most of the season and how he defended Brandon Miller. Oats said that Miller was in the “wrong spot at the wrong time.”
It’s easy to see why people thought he was taking a shot at Nate Oats. However, it was just as possible that he was using a turn of phrase. Based on Nick Saban showing up to basketball practice, it seems like the two are still on good terms.