Oats and Players Discuss Alabama’s Win Over Illinois

What a night, as Alabama continues this dominant start to their season, they send The Illini back to Champaign, Illinois with a loss to break their three-game win streak.

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The Alabama Crimson Tide is now 4-1 after tonight's win against the Illinois Fighting Illini. In a game that was over before the final buzzer sounded, this Alabama team is showing some great signs of a potential March Madness run. During the post-game press conference, head coach Nate Oats has many good things to say about his team.

Oats opened the press conference by speaking on Illinois saying, "Multiple guys will end up playing in the NBA, they have length everywhere and beat us on the boards, so we have to be better on the glass." Oats was also transparent about the Alabama defense saying "Our guys did a much better job defensively...there's a few things we have to get cleaned up.

Players Labaron Philon and Grant Nelson joined coach Oats during the press conference. Reporters asked Nelson about the team's ability to drop 100 points despite their best guard not scoring any points tonight. "I think it showed a lot of Marks's leadership tonight," says Nelson, "He kind of subbed himself out because he saw guys were playing well and knew guys could come in at the guard spot." Sears went 0-9 in shooting this game, only picking up two assists and one defensive rebound.

When asked about his ability to get things going at the beginning of the game, Nelson gave credit to his teammates stating, "They gave me confidence. We kind of knew how they would come out and guard me, and some of the other fours and fives...they passed me the ball early, easily, got the ball in my hands when they could, and it worked out for us."

Labaron was also asked about his ability on the court tonight despite Sears not having a good game to which he stated that "His leadership was still there." Labaron has put on a show in his first few games with the Crimson Tide, leading to the question of; how does it feel to the freshman guard to know he has impacted this team in a positive way.
Labaron answered that question by describing the feeling as "being in the moment" He continues, "As a young guy you might get nervous, have butterflies, but I just try to stay calm in every moment."

Alabama has now won their second C.M. Newton Classic against the Illinois Fighting Illini with a score of 100-87.

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