After leading Alabama to a dominant 111-73 victory over No. 24 Mississippi State, head coach Nate Oats addressed the media. Oats was pleased with the team’s defensive effort, particularly highlighting Labaron Jackson’s defensive performance against Mississippi State’s best player, Josh Hubbard. Oats emphasized the importance of defensive intensity and credited players like Youngblood and Nelson for their defensive contributions.
Oats also commended point guard Mark Sears for his distribution skills, noting that the team is unbeaten when Sears records at least seven assists. The coach stressed the need for improved second-half defense, expressing disappointment with the team’s performance in that area during the Mississippi State game.
Regarding offensive strategies, Oats discussed the team’s success in exploiting Mississippi State’s defense to get open 3-point shots. He also mentioned the development of forward Mouhamed Dioubate’s 3-point shooting skills and the benefits of playing a three-guard lineup.
Oats highlighted the importance of getting forward Grant Nelson to be more aggressive on offense, encouraging him to take advantage of scoring opportunities and draw double teams in the post. Overall, Oats was pleased with the team’s performance but stressed the need for continued improvement, especially on the defensive end. Alabama will be facing No. 5 Tennessee in their next matchup, and Oats is looking forward to the challenge.
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