Are You Using the Freedom Within Sets?

Coach says he doesn't want his players to feel like they're a robot when running set plays. Players should be given the freedom to break down defence and then make play, not turn it over as that's an inefficient possession. 'I'm not trying to try to draw up the most innovative sets you can,' insists coach of New York Knicks. He adds: 'Let's be great at getting into the flow before we have to ever have to call any time out'

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Guest: Nate Oats, University of Alabama Head Coach

University of Alabama head coach Nate Oats joins the Basketball Podcast to share insights into how they play and practice. Nate Oats has a 157–79 record as a D-I head coach at Buffalo and now Alabama and has many accomplishments and honors.

The immediate success became evident in his second year at the helm of the program as Oats guided the 2020-21 Crimson Tide to one of its best seasons in the program’s illustrious history. Alabama finished the year with a 26-7 overall mark, won 16 conference games (16-2), captured both the SEC regular-season and tournament championships, and ended the year ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press’ final national rankings which matched the best end-of-season ranking in program history.

Nate Oats’ has revitalized an Alabama basketball fanbase and returned the Crimson Tide to one of the top collegiate basketball programs in the nation. An indicator of Alabama’s resurgence can be seen in the last two NBA Drafts. As a coach known for developing talent, Oats has now had an Alabama player selected in the NBA Draft Lottery (top-14 pick) in back-to-back years – a first in program history.

Prior to arriving in Tuscaloosa, Oats spent four seasons at the helm of the University of Buffalo where he took the men’s basketball program to unprecedented heights. While there, Oats led the Bulls to a 96-43 (.691) record, three MAC tournament championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including reaching the round of 32 in 2018 and 2019. As a result, he was named the league's coach of the year and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) District 14 Coach of the Year in back-to-back seasons (2018 and 2019).

Prior to joining the Bulls, Oats spent 11 seasons as head coach at Romulus High School in Michigan, winning the school's first state title in 27 years in 2012-13 and finishing the season at 27-1. He was named the 2013 Detroit News State Coach of the Year, the Detroit Free Press State Coach of the Year, and the BCAM State Coach of the Year.

Breakdown

1:00 - Dribble Drive

4:00 - Offensive Perspective

8:00 - Fan Base

12:00 - Driving the 45

15:00 - Player Development Principles

18:00 - Attacking the Rim

19:58 - 20:41 - DR. DISH ADS

23:00 - Quizzing

28:00 - Competitive Component

31:00 - Scoring System

36:00 - How To Game The Point System