Mark Sears: A Catalyst for Alabama’s Third Straight Sweet 16

Cleveland, Ohio. - With Alabama's 80-66 victory over Saint Mary's, Nate Oats accomplishes something long-time Crimson Tide basketball fans have only seen once before: three straight Sweet 16 appearances.

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From 1985 to 1987, Alabama appeared in the Sweet 16 three times, although the NCAA vacated the 1987 appearance. Only long-time Crimson Tide fans have seen the territory Oats is swimming in during the 2025 postseason run.

With the one-and-done rule, rarely do we see players last long enough in college basketball, much less on good teams, to be a part of all three tournament runs in a three-peat scenario. However, amid Oats' NCAA tournament runs in the last three seasons, one player has been by his side for all three - Mark Sears.

Sears spoke on being with Oats during those three runs on Sunday night, following Alabama's 80-66 win over Saint Mary's, "It's a really good feeling. I'm just really proud of the teams I've been on, you know?"

Despite the already huge accomplishment at Alabama, Sears isn't satisfied with just the Sweet 16.

"I just wanna keep going, you know. I wanna get farther and farther each year."

In three seasons at Alabama, Sears averaged 12.5 points per game in 2022-2023, 21.5 points per game in 2023-2024, and 18.8 points per game in 2024-2025. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound graduate student from Muscle Shoals, Alabama averages 16.7 points per game across his five-year career.

The Sportsbook at Pearl River Resort sponsors our coverage of the NCAA tournament. Located at Golden Moon Hotel & Casino, it offers traditional sports betting, where guests can bet on all professional league sports and major collegiate sporting events.

Taco Casa also sponsors our coverage of the NCAA tournament. Under the biggest cactus in town, Taco Casa serves authentic, great-tasting food and award-winning sweet tea in Tuscaloosa. The quality, taste, and tradition that truly are Tuscaloosa. 

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.