Nate Oats reveals Alabama's mindset with bigger target on its back

Nothing needs to change for No. 2 Alabama after tying their highest ranking of the season.

Nate Oats was asked about how the Tide approaches their final eight games now as the second-ranked team in the country during his press conference on Monday. He said it’s nothing but business as usual in each and every game that they take the floor, including tonight in Austin.

“I mean, I think we just stay locked in. Do the same thing we’ve been doing,” said Oats. “I showed a clip of Saban talking on Pat McAfee about, you know, these coaches calling him, asking what he does different for a national championship. (He) almost looked at him like, that’s kind of a stupid question. Like, you just had a big game last week you were getting ready for and a big game the week before.

“You know, obviously, we’re not letting the rankings go to our head. That’d be stupid. So, we gotta keep these guys preparing for Texas as if it was a national championship game. And then you just get your reps, repping for big games all year.”

However, that’s easier for those of them in the Southeastern Conference with almost all of the teams being of tournament quality. The Crimson Tide know that with who they’ve played, including five ranked opponents to this point, and who they will play with seven of their final eight games currently coming against competition in the Top-25.

The only one that isn’t is the one tonight with the Longhorns being capable in their own right.

“At least with us this year in the SEC, there’s no bad games,” said Oats. “I mean, this is a great game. They’re really talented. There’s, you know, first-round picks on this team. So I don’t think it does a whole lot different for us, to be honest with you.”

Alabama doesn’t have to change much of anything as winners of six of their last seven, nine of ten in conference play, and fourteen of their last fifteen since the start of December. They just have to stay with it ahead of one of the most difficult stretches anyone will face this season in college basketball.

“Just do what we do and stay locked in,” Oats said.