Nate Oats: Alabama 'going to try to have the best schedule in the country again'

HOOVER, Ala. – Alabama basketball head coach Nate Oats is not afraid to schedule tough. But while at the Final Four in San Antonio last month, he hinted at dialing back on that approach.

“When you get into conference play, and everybody’s as good as they are, there’s no off nights,” Oats told SiriusXM College Sports Radio. “I think it’s good. That’s why I schedule non-conference. But we may have to evaluate our non-conference schedule based on how tough our conference schedule is now. There’s just not an off night.”

That didn’t last long, as Alabama once again has a brutal non-conference slate for 2025-26.

The Crimson Tide, in Oats’ seventh season as the head coach, is set to face Purdue, Illinois, Arizona and St. John’s before the New Year. Alabama will also play in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas and will face another high-major opponent in the SEC/ACC Challenge.

Alabama will once again have one of the best strength of schedules, despite Oats’ comments. When he was asked about it on Wednesday morning before teeing off at the Regions Tradition Pro-Am, Oats chuckled and talked about the Crimson Tide’s tough batch of games.

“I think it’s worked for us,” Oats said. “You look at the success we’ve had – we’ve had the No. 1 strength of schedule in the country the last two years. I did make a comment along those lines, but two years ago, when it was really tough, we lost three straight non-conference games. We still ended up going to the Final Four. So I believe we’re the only team in the country that’s played in the last two Elite Eights. So I think it works.

“I think we’ve peaked at the right time. I think going through a little bit adversity in a non-conference helps. And look, you really don’t get punished for losing those games. When you look at your seeding for the NCAA Tournament, the committee wants good non-conference games.

“… We’re still in the middle of adding a few more games. You know what? We’re going to try to have the best schedule in the country again, maybe. Maybe it’s seven really good ones instead of eight really good ones. I don’t know.”

St. John’s is the most recent game added to Alabama’s schedule, and Oats discussed it.

“You look at the first week of college basketball, we’re going to play St. John’s at the Garden, so it’s going to be our second game,” Oats said. “So, like, ready or not, you better be ready to play right out of the gate this year. So I’m looking forward to it. I mean, the Garden is one of the best places to play in college basketball. It was an opportunity we didn’t think we could pass up.

“St. John’s has won the Big East, No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They play a little bit different style. We’re going to have to be ready for the pressure. Our guards, whoever, whatever we end up being on the roster, they’re going to have to be ready to go against their pressure. I think it’ll be good for us.”

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