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Nate Oats on visiting Yale locker room: 'It had nothing to do with the fact they beat Auburn'

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh03/23/24griffin_mcveigh
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AUBURN, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Nate Oats of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a big play during the second half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Neville Arena on February 11, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

Rivalries run deep in the SEC, especially between Alabama and Auburn. So when Nate Oats went into the Yale locker room after they beat Auburn on Friday, Alabama fans loved the move. Without context, it looks like Oats is trolling the in-state foes right before his own tip-off against Charleston.

Oats did provide some context on the moment on Saturday, saying his visit had nothing to do with Yale specifically beating Auburn. He was there to congratulate their head coach, James Jones, though. The two go way back and Oats wanted to give him props for getting a win in the NCAA Tournament.

“It had nothing to do with the fact they beat Auburn,” Oats said Saturday. “I know everybody wants to make that out to be (something). I actually − you want your league to do well. It looks a lot better for us if our league does really well. It was just (that) I’ve known Coach Jones (and have) a lot of respect for him. I was at Buffalo as a 13 seed playing Arizona. I know the feeling in that locker room.

“I didn’t talk to their team or anything. I just congratulated coach Jones, who, by the way, is an unbelievable coach. He’s done great work at Yale for a long time. He’s a great coach and a good friend in the business. I just wanted to congratulate James on a win.”

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If Oats is cheering for the SEC in the NCAA Tournament, his bracket might not be doing too well. The conference went 3-5 in the Round of 64. Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas A&M were the only ones to advance.

Auburn packed their bags early after winning the SEC Tournament championship. Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and South Carolina all joined the Tigers in suffering losses.

While it might be a move the fans love from Oats, he claims there was no ill intent in terms of the rivalry against Auburn. Just giving props to Jones, a coach he clearly has a ton of respect for.

Alabama and Yale are both still in Spokane, hoping to punch a ticket to the Sweet Sixteen. Oats will be on the court first though, with the game against Grand Canyon scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. Yale will take on San Diego State in what will be the final contest of the first weekend.