Alabama has long been known as a football powerhouse, with its storied program under legendary coaches like Bear Bryant and Nick Saban. However, the question of whether Alabama can become a basketball school under head coach Nate Oats is intriguing and has generated a lot of discussion in recent years. With the rise of Alabama’s basketball program under Oats, there’s a growing sense that the school could shift toward being a true basketball contender, but it’s still unclear whether football will allow that to happen.
Alabama Basketball Under Nate Oats
Since Nate Oats took over as head coach in 2019, the Alabama basketball program has experienced significant growth. Under Oats’ leadership, the Crimson Tide have become a force in the SEC and nationally, thanks to his fast-paced, three-point-heavy offensive system. Alabama’s 2020-2021 season was a breakthrough year, as the Tide won the SEC regular-season title and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, marking their most successful season in decades.
Oats has proven to be a strong recruiter, bringing in talented players, and his coaching style has created a high level of excitement and success. He’s also led Alabama to competitive showings in the NCAA Tournament, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2021 and high expectations for future seasons.
Can Alabama Become a Basketball School?
Becoming a “basketball school” is more than just having a good coach and a few successful seasons. It’s about creating a consistent, winning culture that can rival the school’s football legacy. Can Alabama basketball achieve that? It’s a possibility, but there are several factors at play:
- Sustained Success: To transition into a basketball school, Alabama needs sustained success over multiple years, not just a few good seasons. Oats has shown the ability to get the team into the NCAA Tournament and be a contender, but continued excellence will be necessary for Alabama basketball to be seen as a legitimate basketball power on the national stage.
- Facilities and Investment: Alabama has made strides in improving its basketball facilities, with Coleman Coliseum getting an upgrade. However, the school would need to continue to invest in basketball to keep up with other elite programs, especially in terms of facilities, player development, and support staff. While football facilities like Bryant-Denny Stadium are top-tier, basketball would need more focus to truly compete at the highest level year in and year out.
- Recruiting: Alabama basketball’s rise under Oats has been fueled by elite recruiting, but football still dominates the recruiting landscape in Tuscaloosa. It’s unlikely that basketball will be able to fully overtake football in terms of resources and attention. However, Oats has proven capable of attracting top-tier talent, and if Alabama can consistently land top players, the basketball program will continue to thrive.
- Fan Base and Culture Shift: Football is king in Alabama, and that’s not going to change anytime soon. The passion for college football in the state and on campus is immense. It would take a cultural shift for basketball to garner the same level of support and attention. However, if Oats can continue to build on Alabama’s success and create a more exciting atmosphere around the basketball program, it’s possible that the fan base would become more invested in hoops.
Football’s Role
While Alabama football is undeniably the dominant force in Tuscaloosa, there are some signs that the football program’s success might help basketball. Football provides the university with immense financial resources, and a rising basketball program could benefit from the university’s growing focus on athletics as a whole. In some ways, Alabama football’s success helps raise the profile of all of the school’s athletic programs, including basketball.
However, football also takes up a lot of space in terms of resources, media attention, and fan interest. Football games draw the majority of the attention in Tuscaloosa, and basketball is often viewed as secondary, even during successful years. Football has a massive fanbase and media footprint, which can make it difficult for basketball to break through and claim a similar level of prominence.
Could Alabama Be a Basketball Powerhouse?
Looking ahead, there is certainly potential for Alabama basketball to become a serious contender on the national stage. While the school will always be defined by football, there’s no reason why the basketball program can’t continue to grow and build upon its success under Oats. Alabama could develop into a top-tier program within the SEC and nationally, competing for NCAA titles and building a fan base that rivals the football program’s enthusiasm.
However, for Alabama to truly become a “basketball school,” football would need to take a step back in terms of dominance within the school’s identity. This would require a level of success from basketball that exceeds a few good seasons and develops into a sustainable powerhouse. If Oats and the basketball program continue to perform at a high level while Alabama continues to invest in its facilities, recruiting, and fan base, there’s no reason why basketball can’t be a bigger part of the athletic identity at Alabama.