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Nate Oats had a lame excuse for Alabama’s loss

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Mar 28, 2026 12:40 PM ET

Alabama head coach Nate Oats offered up a rather lame excuse for the Crimson Tide’s loss to Michigan in the Sweet 16.

Oats bemoaned the fact that his team got outrebounded 46-32 by Michigan in Friday’s 90-77 loss at United Center in Chicago, Ill. After the game, he told reporters that the game would have been different had center Charles Bediako been granted eligibility for the rest of the season.

“Most people, uncluding ourselves, thought Bediako would be eligible. We had one judge that thought so. He would’ve definitely helped the situation with the rebounding,” Oats said. “We would not have gotten out-rebounded by 13 tonight had we been able to continue to play him. … But it wasn’t meant to be.”

Nate Oats postgame

"We know we gotta get bigger… We saw the opportunity to bring some size on, after Nnaji was declared eligible, and most people, including ourselves, thought Bediako would be eligible. We had one judge who thought so. He would've definitely helped the… pic.twitter.com/9GIJntY8RI
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 28, 2026

Bediako turned pro in 2023 and spent multiple seasons in the G League, and even signed a two-way contract with the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. He controversially sought to return to college earlier this season and was even given temporary eligibility by an Alabama judge. That same judge was later exposed for being a Crimson Tide team booster.

Eventually, a second judge ruled against Alabama and Bediako, rendering the 24-year-old ineligible for the rest of the season. Oats was clearly counting on having him based on these comments.

Oats will not garner much sympathy here. Alabama’s attempt to bring Bediako back was highly controversial and was blasted by opposing fans and even some rival coaches. To many, this will simply sound like Oats complaining that the Crimson Tide did not get a professional player to play for them during the NCAA Tournament.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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