Nate Oats promises to cut down nets, ladders on standby if Alabama wins SEC outright with win over Auburn

Alabama is prepared for anything Wednesday night as it takes on Auburn at Coleman Coliseum. Ladders are standing by for a potential postgame celebration, Nate Oats told the ESPN broadcast.

The Crimson Tide have clinched at least a share of the SEC title already with a huge game looming against Texas A&M on Saturday. However, a win Wednesday night means Alabama wins the SEC title outright — and Oats said preparations have been made for the celebration.

“Nate Oats said, ‘We’ll bring the ladders out,'” Tom Hart said on the ESPN broadcast. “‘We will cut down the nets with a win.'”

Alabama won the last matchup with Auburn in The Jungle 77-69 earlier this year. The Crimson Tide enter play Wednesday with victories in seven of its last nine games as the SEC Tournament draws closer.

Nate Oats explains why winning SEC regular season title would be a little sweeter at home

When Alabama clinched the 2020-2021 SEC regular season championship, they did so on the road in Starkville. Add in COVID-19 affecting the crowd and there was not too much juice in the celebration on the court. The stakes are certainly different for head coach Nate Oats heading into Wednesday’s game.

Auburn will be in Tuscaloosa for the latest edition of the Iron Bowl of Basketball. Earning a conference championship at home in front of a packed arena would be special enough. Doing so against the Tigers would be an incredible moment for Oats and the entire program.

“It would be a lot sweeter than it was at Mississippi State,” Oats said. “It was great two years ago but they last home game of the season in front of a ruckus crowd. I mean, it’s Auburn. It would be much better to do it… We plan on having this place sold out. It’s been sold out for a long time. So, it will be a lot better than on the road at Mississippi State.”