Nate Oats Expects Alabama to Win Big Games

Nate Oats spent time speaking with the media on Friday ahead of No. 14 Alabama and No. 4 Tennessee matching up against one another on Saturday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. CT.

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It's arguably the biggest Alabama basketball game in Coleman Coliseum of the 2000s, and Nate Oats understands the impact of this game. He said, "The program has come a long way that College Gameday wants to come here for a game."

Oats also provided a positive injury update on Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who has missed the last three games following a head injury he suffered in practice leading up to the Florida game, "He's back doing basketball workouts and conditioning and all that, and they say it's going really well. So it should be any day here he's able to play games."

Nate Oats also provided his insight into a recent issue at the forefront of college basketball, "We don't storm the court here. We expect to win big games."

"If players are getting hurt in it, they need to do something about it."

Earlier this season, Tennessee had Alabama's number in Knoxville to the tune of a 91-71 victory for Tennessee. The Volunteers have struggled on the road this season, with losses at No. 17 North Carolina, at Mississippi State, and at Texas A&M.

The winner of Saturday's showdown between Alabama and Tennessee will likely be in the driver's seat and control their own destiny in the SEC regular season race. The Crimson Tide and the Volunteers will tip off on Saturday, March 2 at 7:00 p.m. CT.