Closing Games Key to Getting Alabama Basketball Back in Win Column

Oats addressed the Crimson Tide's end-of-game woes during his Friday press conference ahead of Saturday's game.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama basketball has lost three games in a row, and four of its last five, but in each one of those losses the Crimson Tide had a lead late in the game, and wasn't able to seal the deal. 

"I think the guys are confident knowing we're one of the best teams in the country for large parts in the game," Alabama head coach Nate Oats said in his Friday press conference. "We've got to show some grit, some fight, some competitiveness, particularly when it comes down to the last 8-12 minutes [of the game]."

Against Clemson at home, Alabama lead by seven points well into the second half. Against Purdue in Toronto, the Crimson Tide lead by double figures early in the second period. In hostile road environments against Creighton and Arizona the past two games, Alabama held a 6-point lead with under 10 minutes to go.

"We've looked at our numbers, the first 28 minutes of the game, we've literally been one of the top 5-10 teams in the country. The last 12 minutes of the game, we've completely fallen apart." Oats said. "If you break the numbers down, it's bad. We go from one of the best to one of the worst teams in the country."

Oats believes the team's ability to play while enduring fatigue is the key to cleaning up a lot of its issues when closing out games. 

"These guys have to figure out ways to win games when they're a little fatigued," Oats said. "We've got to be a little tougher when we're fatigued and show some determination, some fight, some competitiveness, some winning characteristics when it comes time to win these games after we've built up a lead."

During his press conference, Oats referenced college basketball analytical sites such as KenPom that have Alabama rated in the top 10 nationally, since those sites factor teams' efficiency possession-by-possession wholistically rather than pure win-loss record. 

Oats noted that Alabama is receiving zero votes in the polls because of their inability to win games the past few weeks. 

"I think they're confident in knowing that we can be one of the best teams, but we've got to prove to ourselves that we know how to win these tight games."

The Crimson Tide is back in action tomorrow against Eastern Kentucky, the first time since Dec. 4 that Alabama won't be facing an AP top-10 team. 

Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT inside Coleman Coliseum and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network.

5-Star Derrion Reid Commits to Alabama Basketball