When asked if Alabama basketball should be rated first, Nate Oats had the ideal reaction.
The Alabama Crimson Tide escaped a late run by the Arkansas Razorbacks for an 85-81 win Saturday night at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Alabama’s win was the sixth in a row by Nate Oats’ team, which improved to 20-3 overall and 9-1 in the SEC, college basketball’s toughest league this season.
After the game, Oats was asked whether he had a “pitch” for why Alabama should be ranked No. 1 in Monday’s new Top 25 polls.
Here’s what he said:
“I don’t really care, to be honest with you. Probably not going to make a pitch. I did see Auburn lost before we played… We’ve got to just take care of business. We’ve got full control of our own destiny to win the SEC right now. Wherever the voters want to put us, it doesn’t matter. We’ll be 1, 2 or 3, that’s for sure.
“I don’t really care. Let’s focus on Texas. Let’s try to win an SEC regular season championship and let all that other stuff fall where it may.”
Both No. 1 Auburn (21-2) and No. 2 Duke (20-3) fells in upsets Saturday, paving a path for third-ranked Alabama to be No. 1 in the polls. Auburn lost 90-81 at home to the No. 6 Gators, who got 19 points from Walter Clayton Jr. and 17 from Alex Condon. Duke fell on the road at No. 21 Clemson, 77-71.
Alabama plays Texas at 8 p.m. CT Tuesday at Moody Center in Austin. The Tide got 15 points apiece from Grant Nelson and Chris Youngblood in Saturday’s win over Arkansas, Alabama’s fifth straight vs. the Hogs.
Here’s Oats’ full postgame press conference after Alabama’s victory in Fayetteville.
