Nate Oats on benching players: 'I for sure take them out for not taking shots they've should've'

Most coaches might get upset with their players for taking bad shots. But not Alabama‘s Nate Oats. In fact, he is going to do the exact opposite of what you might expect. Oats gets more upset with his players for not pulling the trigger on a few shot selections, turning to his bench if the ball does not go up.

“They screw up in the game, they screw up,” Oats said Tuesday on SEC Network. “I don’t know if I’ve ever pulled him out for taking a shot I didn’t like. I for sure turn them out for taking shots they should’ve taken. I get more upset when they turn down a shot. He knows he’s got to take the shot. Like, the offense doesn’t work if you don’t take the shots you’re supposed to take.”

Wanting to get a hefty amount of three-point attempts is nothing new in Tuscaloosa. Oats has turned the program into one of the most offensive efficent our there per KenPom, finishing in the top five over the past two seasons. Plenty of incredible shooters have come through since Oats arrived, most recently the likes of Mark Sears.

The 2025-2026 season is going to be no different. A good chunk of experience is returning for Alabama, highlighted by Aden Holloway, Houston Mallette, Labaron Philon, and Latrell Wrightsell. Aiden Sherrell is seven feet tall and has more than the green light, possibly falling into the category of upsetting Oats for not taking a shot.

Expectations are going to be high when it comes to shooting the ball. Not just externally but Oats recently gave his thoughts on what this year’s team ceiling could be.

“I think we’ve got potential to be the best shooting team we’ve had here,” Oats said on Oct. 6. “We’ve been shooting it pretty well. You know, we know Holloway can shoot it. Wrightsell can shoot it. Houston Mallette has really been shooting it… We’ve got two seven-footers that can make shots… Going down the list, we’ve got a lot of guys that can shoot well. It plays into the way we want to play on the offensive end.”

Alabama begins its season on Nov. 3, welcoming North Dakota to town. From there, a gauntlet of a nonconference schedule begins. Defense continues to be a major talking point for Oats heading into the year, but he wants to ensure his players are getting their shots up.