Oats mentioned guard Chris Youngblood, who has started each of Alabama's past two games and posted 23 points against Mississippi State on Wednesday, as an individual who has taken steps towards assuming the mantle of locking down another team's most prolific scoring option. However, he wants to see more of it from other players.

Alabama basketball has what Nate Oats called a "sense of urgency" and "respect" against higher-ranked teams on the road. Why not at home in Coleman?

Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats praised Mark Sears' response after he was benched against LSU, but did not say whether he would start at Mississippi State.