Nate Oats builds in an excuse for Alabama’s loss to Tennessee Vols

The Tennessee Vols defeated Alabama without a couple of starters, and their head coach says that should matter to the selection committee.

Craig Smith — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer

Feb 11, 2026 1:35 PM EST

Alabama head basketball coach Nate Oats has been in the center of controversy going back to last month with the return of NBA G Leaguer Charles Bediako to the Crimson Tide’s roster for five games. That has since come to an end this week, with a judge ruling on Monday that Bediako is not entitled to an injunction against the NCAA and thus no longer eligible to play college basketball.

It seems Oats wasn’t done giving controversial takes with Bediako now ineligible to play. Oats was asked on Tuesday during his press conference if he was worried about Bediako playing in those five games affecting his team’s evaluation for the NCAA tournament.

Oats took the opportunity to build a case for his team’s losses without some key players, including the Vols’ 79-73 win over the Crimson Tide back on January 17 in Tuscaloosa.

Nate Oats says absence of two key players in Crimson Tide’s loss to Tennessee should be weighed by the selection committee

“If the five games that we did play impacted our resume, then all the games that we played without, and I go down the entire list of guys, where we lost, would have to impact it,” Oats said. “You think about Vanderbilt, we didn’t have Aiden Sherrell, we didn’t have Labaron Philon in the second half. Think about Tennessee, we didn’t have Aden Holloway, Amari Allen.

“I mean, you go down the list of every game we’ve played where we didn’t have guys available for the entire game, or large parts of the game. We lost to Gonzaga without (Latrell) Wrightsell. Every loss we’ve had, we’ve had multiple guys, starters, guys in the rotation, not play.

“So, if you’re going to consider those five games with Charles, then you also have to consider the rest of them without, who we’ll hopefully have available to play in the NCAA Tournament.”

That’s a pretty strong case of apples to oranges. Injuries are a part of every sport. Depth is tested. Teams are expected to rise above it. Every team has to deal with it. The Vols have been without key big man Cade Phillips, and top rim defender Felix Okpara has been out recently for a number of games. They won’t get any sympathy from the committee, nor should Alabama.

And having a player who went pro come back can’t possibly be considered in the same pantheon of acceptable or understandable as injury woes to actual college players. He made a decision to go to the NBA, and he played in the G League with or against players who either played in the NBA or have since made it to the league.

They’re completely different situations, and if the NCAA chooses to punish the Oats and the Tide for pulling Bediako from the pros, then that’s something they should have seen coming.