Nate Oats

The average price paid for a ticket on the resale market this week was twice as high for the NCAA women's Final Four compared with that for the men's semifinals, according to a technology company that analyzes prices across multiple platforms. That means seats Alabama’s appearance in the men’s Final Four, along with UConn, Purdue, and NC State are going for less by comparison.

Nate Oats admits it: He whiffed on Mark Sears out of high school.It's OK, though. So did every other major college coach.It is why Alabama's undersized, high-scoring point guard wound up at Ohio University before finally getting a chance to return to his home state.

Alabama needed more bodies. Connecticut and Purdue needed the right fit. North Carolina State had big holes to fill in the backcourt. They all mined the transfer portal effectively enough that those pieces are key reasons that they've reached the Final Four, headed to the desert with a chance to hoist a trophy.

Nate Oats has Nick Saban on speed dial. Yet the Alabama men's basketball coach knew he needed as much input as possible as his team was reeling heading into the NCAA Tournament. The result? The Crimson Tide are making their first appearance in the Final Four.

Clemson reached its second-ever Elite Eight in college men’s basketball with a staunch defense that took away opponents' perimeter game. On Saturday night, the Tigers couldn't get the stops they needed. Alabama advances to the “Final Four” for the first time ever. Tide fans may be more used to playing Clemson in college football, including Alabama’s bruising loss to the Tigers, 44-16, for the national football title in San Jose in 2019.

During Head Coach Nick Saban’s time at Alabama, the Clemson Tigers were the “boogeymen” of college football. The Tigers beat the Tide for the college football championship, including games in Tampa and San Jose, which Alabama Public Radio covered nationally for NPR. Now, the two Universities are vying for a slot in the “Final Four.”

Latrell Wrightsell Jr. will be a gametime decision for Alabama’s NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina on Thursday night. The senior guard continues to be evaluated for a head injury that he suffered during the first half of last Sunday’s 72-61 victory over Grand Canyon.

Alabama is set to pay new football coach Kalen DeBoer at least $87 million over eight years. School trustees also formally approved raises and extensions for basketball coach Nate Oats and athletic director Greg Byrne.

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees wants basketball coach Nate Oates around until 2030. The panel approved the new agreement that will extend his current contract by one season to keep him in charge of the Crimson Tide basketball program through March 14, 2030. The compensation package will increase annually throughout the length of the contract

Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne said in a social media post that basketball Nate Oats' contract will go before the school's Board of Trustees next week. The 19th-ranked Crimson Tide played Florida on Friday night in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinal round.