Nate Oats Criticizes Alabama Star Mark Sears Amid Benching Controversy and Mother’s Backlash**
Alabama basketball head coach Nate Oats has publicly criticized his star guard, Mark Sears, just ahead of a major rivalry game against the Auburn Tigers. Oats expressed frustration with Sears’ recent struggles, particularly his turnovers, and suggested that the team’s success depended on him improving in that area.
Sears’ turnover issues have been a lingering problem for Alabama, dating back to a game against LSU, where Oats made the surprising decision to bench him for the entire second half. When asked about the move, the coach gave no specific explanation, simply stating that he played the athletes who gave the team “the best chance to win.”
The benching sparked controversy, especially after Sears’ mother publicly criticized Oats, calling the situation “humiliating” and arguing that it led to unfair judgments of her son’s character. Oats, however, stood by his decision, asserting that no single player was more important than the program itself.
Despite this tough approach, the message Oats intended to send didn’t seem to have the desired effect. In the four games following his LSU benching, Sears continued to struggle with ball control, committing a total of 22 turnovers—six or more in three of those games. While Alabama still managed to win all four contests, Oats was well aware that they would need a near-flawless performance to defeat top-ranked Auburn.
On game night, Alabama ultimately fell short, suffering a disappointing loss that snapped their seven-game winning streak and crushed their hopes of claiming the No. 1 spot in the rankings. However, Sears did manage to reduce his turnovers, committing just two during the game. He also led the team in scoring, but it was far from his best outing.
Sears struggled significantly with his shooting, going just 4-for-17 from the field. He was closely guarded by Auburn’s Denver Jones and found it difficult to establish any offensive rhythm. While he managed to contribute 18 points, eight of those came from the free-throw line. His three-point shooting, which had been a reliable weapon at nearly 36% efficiency this season, faltered as he finished just 2-for-11 from beyond the arc.
The loss was a frustrating blow for both Alabama’s players and their fans, not just because of the rivalry implications, but also because it ended their hot streak and removed any chance of reaching the nation’s top ranking.
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