Cal to Fayetteville?

[CrimsonTitles]

Let's face it--we're all gonna be nervous until this all sorts out.

I've got a feeling we'll hear something soon. They'll want to squash these rumors sooner rather than later, because it's portal season.

 

[bamamc1]

That is my hope.

I see people all the time, even Alabama fans, comparing UK football and Alabama basketball. Or, UConn football and Alabama basketball. And these are simply poor comparisons. Alabama basketball has a richer history than either UConn or UK have in football. And it is set up for current day success far better than either as well.

Coach Oats can be a legend here.

You are exactly correct. As far as $ spent on a basketball program, UA is in the Top 5 in the country. CNO is among the Top 5 in salary as well.

 

[BamaMoon]

As if it isn't abundantly clear, Alabama basketball is clearly "above" Kentucky basketball since CNO arrived at Bama.

He can clearly accomplish as much or more at Alabama than he can at Kentucky in this era of college basketball and he'll not have nearly the pressure to do it and he'll be an even bigger legend here when he does it.

 

[CrimsonNagus]

As if it isn't abundantly clear, Alabama basketball is clearly "above" Kentucky basketball since CNO arrived at Bama.

He can clearly accomplish as much or more at Alabama than he can at Kentucky in this era of college basketball and he'll not have nearly the pressure to do it and he'll be an even bigger legend here when he does it.

He already has in my book. There is only 1 coach that has made a Final Four at Bama. Instant promotion to GOAT of Bama basketball coaches.

 

[TideEngineer08]

He already has in my book. There is only 1 coach that has made a Final Four at Bama. Instant promotion to GOAT of Bama basketball coaches.

I agree. I think he was even with Wimp prior to this postseason. Now, he's past him, IMO. The only other argument to be made would be CM Newton, but IMO he did not stay at Alabama long enough.

How would you rank between Wimp and CM Newton? Either way, Oats has surpassed them both, IMO.

Amazing to think this is where we are in just 5 short years.

edit: I was wrong about CM Newton. He was at Alabama for 12 years. For some reason, I was thinking it was half that.

Coach Oats certainly must be regarded on the same tier as Newton and Sanderson.

 

[dayhiker]

I agree. I think he was even with Wimp prior to this postseason. Now, he's past him, IMO. The only other argument to be made would be CM Newton, but IMO he did not stay at Alabama long enough.

How would you rank between Wimp and CM Newton? Either way, Oats has surpassed them both, IMO.

Amazing to think this is where we are in just 5 short years.

edit: I was wrong about CM Newton. He was at Alabama for 12 years. For some reason, I was thinking it was half that.

Coach Oats certainly must be regarded on the same tier as Newton and Sanderson.

Minor point, but CM and Wimp each were HC at Bama for 12 seasons.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Minor point, but CM and Wimp each were HC at Bama for 12 seasons.

Yes I should have looked into it instead of going on memory (Selma, I am not).

Really, when I look at what both Newton and Sanderson accomplished at Alabama, I actually have a harder time just boldly proclaiming Oats as better. Newton won 3 straight SEC titles at Alabama. Sanderson had 6 Sweet Sixteen runs and 10 ncaa tournament trips.

This final 4 for Coach Oats is huge. He's had 2 other Sweet 16 runs, and also 2 SEC regular season and 2 SEC tournament titles. But just 5 total seasons. Hopefully, we can keep him for at least 12.

 

[dayhiker]

Yes I should have looked into it instead of going on memory (Selma, I am not).

Really, when I look at what both Newton and Sanderson accomplished at Alabama, I actually have a harder time just boldly proclaiming Oats as better. Newton won 3 straight SEC titles at Alabama. Sanderson had 6 Sweet Sixteen runs and 10 ncaa tournament trips.

This final 4 for Coach Oats is huge. He's had 2 other Sweet 16 runs, and also 2 SEC regular season and 2 SEC tournament titles. But just 5 total seasons. Hopefully, we can keep him for at least 12.

I bet we can agree that if we can keep him 12, his accomplishments will far exceed anything we've experienced at UA in basketball.

 

[Rama Jama]

When he came to Tuscaloosa he didn't interview with the blue blood if all blue bloods Ucla because he didn't want to raise his daughters in LA. I think he is happy in Tuscaloosa but it is hard to say no to place with the almost unlimited resources as is the case in Lexington. He would also have a place similar to Tuscaloosa to raise his daughters. I believe he can reach unprecedented heights at Alabama. The question is does he want to continue a great tradition or does he want to create one in Tuscaloosa.

 

[BamaMoon]

He already has in my book. There is only 1 coach that has made a Final Four at Bama. Instant promotion to GOAT of Bama basketball coaches.

To be clear, I was referring to winning NCs. Since CNO has been at Bama we've achieved more than KY in SEC league terms. But he can win a NC here just as fast...maybe faster... than at KY.

He's already the GOAT of Bama basketball in his short time IMO but his legendary status would be stronger here if he wins just one. At KY you are just one of many who have done so.

 

[AlexanderFan]

To be clear, I was referring to winning NCs. Since CNO has been at Bama we've achieved more than KY in SEC league terms. But he can win a NC here just as fast...maybe faster... than at KY.

He's already the GOAT of Bama basketball in his short time IMO but his legendary status would be stronger here if he wins just one. At KY you are just one of many who have done so.

It's definitely about either building, or maintaining, a winning legacy.

 

[Padreruf]

I lived in Ky for 7 ½ years --- and they are CRAZY about basketball. Coaches are like gods, until they don't win the NCAA championship EVERY YEAR. I cannot name one coach who left UK under his own will -- other than Adolph Rupp. Joe B. Hall won and won -- yet was regularly roasted by fans. You name the coach and he was literally run out of town...

I hope Nate Oats looks at the reality and says no...I would be more worried about him going to UConn than UK.

My 2 cents worth...

 

[bamamc1]

When he came to Tuscaloosa he didn't interview with the blue blood if all blue bloods Ucla because he didn't want to raise his daughters in LA. I think he is happy in Tuscaloosa but it is hard to say no to place with the almost unlimited resources as is the case in Lexington. He would also have a place similar to Tuscaloosa to raise his daughters. I believe he can reach unprecedented heights at Alabama. The question is does he want to continue a great tradition or does he want to create one in Tuscaloosa.

At UK you’re compared to Rupp, Hall, Pitino, and Calipari. He can create his own legacy and be the best to ever do it here.

 

[dtgreg]

The word I'm hearing is Cal has a billionaire buddy who is a big Arky booster. Since we're just Pony Expressing teams out in the open now, I'm wondering if KY can't "pony up" like the Waltons can?

 

[BhamToTexas]

I don't think it does any good to downplay the HC job at UK. It is a big deal. It would be similar to downplaying the UA football job because it is a pressure cooker, lots of coaches have already done it before you, fans are crazy, etc.

Let's just hope he likes what he has built and is building at UA more than the dream of coaching a UK.

 

[Crimson1967]

I saw a documentary about Kentucky basketball once. They interviewed Bill Curry. He said when Pitino took the job there he told him it would be a whole other world when it came to the pressure. (I think we can all agree Curry could relate to a Kentucky basketball coach).

He said Pitino told him he had been in New York so he could handle it. Curry just chuckled and said he came back a year later and told him he was right.

The Final Four was great but I’m not declaring him the GOAT yet. He’s certainly on the level of the other two but his body of work needs more. Hopefully he stays to add to it.

 

[December05]

The Oats/Kentucky and DeBoer/Alabama comparison is obvious with one notable difference. UK bball isn’t nearly in the same solid position that Bama football is.

I do believe even if he doesn’t listen to UK, Nate will parlay this - and the likelihood that it’ll continue in the coming season - into a nailed down timeline on a new arena, and rightfully so.

 

[MOAN]

Lol rumor out now that he is trying to stay at Kentucky and might not be headed to Arkansas after all

I can't see where Arkansas would be an upgrade over Kentucky. Unless he was fired why? Don't make sense to me but I don't have much sense lol!!! Getting out before he is fired? I am sure he has a hefty contract at Kentucky and I would think a big buy out if fired. He ain't the youngest kid on the block either. Yall enlighten me lol!!!

 

[MOAN]

The word I'm hearing is Cal has a billionaire buddy who is a big Arky booster. Since we're just Pony Expressing teams out in the open now, I'm wondering if KY can't "pony up" like the Waltons can?

If I was Arkansas and had a billionaire willing to spend unlimited money for a coach I would be going to coach Oats first over Calipari lol!!!

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

I can't see where Arkansas would be an upgrade over Kentucky. Unless he was fired why? Don't make sense to me but I don't have much sense lol!!! Getting out before he is fired? I am sure he has a hefty contract at Kentucky and I would think a big buy out if fired. He ain't the youngest kid on the block either. Yall enlighten me lol!!!

I think I saw he has something like a $30 million buy out