The Curious Case of Alabama
The Nate Oats era in Tuscaloosa has been nothing short of impressive.
Since taking over as Alabama’s head coach, Oats has compiled a 138-58 record (70.4% win percentage), captured two conference titles, and earned SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2021.
He also led the Crimson Tide to the Final Four last season.
Alabama’s Style Under Oats Is Extreme
The Crimson Tide play at the fastest pace in the country and have consistently ranked in the top five for possessions/game since his arrival.
Offensively, they embody modern basketball analytics—pushing the tempo and relying heavily on three-point shooting, averaging 29.1 attempts per game.
Despite their below-average three-point shooting (33.9%), they emphasize high-efficiency shots, prioritizing layups and threes.
Think of them as a blend of 1990 UNLV and the modern analytics-driven era of basketball.
This Offensive Style Comes at a Cost
That cost is defense. Alabama currently ranks 121st in defensive efficiency, allowing 79.1 points per game.
You might expect their up-tempo approach to force turnovers and create fast-break opportunities, but that hasn’t been the case.
The Crimson Tide ranks 354th in turnovers forced and only 270th in extra scoring chances per game.
Can This Style Win an NCAA Championship?
Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, no team allowing 78 or more points per game has won the title.
The only champion to allow more than 75 PPG was UNLV in 1990—the very outlier we mentioned earlier.
Over the past 34 seasons, national champions have allowed an average of 66.75 PPG, and 15 of the last 17 champions ranked 66th or better in defensive efficiency entering the tournament.
Alabama Presents a Compelling Case Study
The Crimson Tide are a serious threat to the "defense wins championships" truthers.
Even though Alabama lost to UConn in last year’s Final Four, it made a strong case that a team with this style can reach the top of college basketball.
So, could this be the year the "Tide" finally turns, or will history repeat itself?
