Already having traveled to Rhode Island, Penn State and for a three-game tournament in the Bahamas this season, first-year Alabama coach Nate Oats will take his road show to more familiar ground this week: Alabama.
On Wednesday, the Tide will play Samford in what will be considered an away game in Birmingham’s Legacy Arena. Then on Saturday, Alabama will meet Belmont in a neutral-site game Saturday in Huntsville’s Von Braun Center.
The first of the in-state bus trips will be an opportunity for Oats to showcase his fast-paced style of play in the inaugural Chick-fil-A Birmingham Classic, which was organized by local marketing agency Knight Eady.
The firm, which also is hosting Saturday’s game in Huntsville, previously led the Vulcan Classic in Birmingham from 2015-17.
“They approached us, the Knight Eady group, about playing here in Birmingham, like they’ve done here in the past," coach Nate Oats said Tuesday. “We’re definitely open to it. We want to play up here in Birmingham. We got a lot of fans, a lot of supporters. We’re gonna recruit the area."
The prior three games in Birmingham were all considered neutral site contests. An Alabama loss to Oregon in 2015 drew 14,508 fans. Attendance dipped to 11,147 for a defeat by Clemson in 2016, but rebounded in 2017 when 16,146 watched the Tide fall to Texas.
The upper deck of the 17,000-seat Legacy Arena was curtained off during both teams’ practices Tuesday. A large crowd would seem unrealistic for a weeknight 6:30 p.m. tilt between Alabama, 4-5 and No. 96 in the NCAA’s initial NET rankings this week, and a non-major conference foe in Samford, 6-6 and No. 257 in the NET.
However, unlike Alabama’s previous three games at the BJCC, Oats saw a chance to earn a road win on what is essentially home turf for the Tide.
“When we started talking and trying to figure out opponents, we tried to do another true road game,” he said Tuesday. “It worked out. We contacted Stamford and they were open to playing us here. Being that they’re from right here, the way the contract is worded, it ends up being a true road game, even though it’s played here at Legacy Arena."
Former NBA player Scott Padgett, seeking his third winning season in his sixth as Samford’s coach, sees an opportunity in hosting the school’s dominant neighbor. Alabama has won 29 of 32 all-time meetings with Samford, including the last one in Coleman Coliseum in 2009.
“Being in Birmingham, playing Alabama, it’s huge for our program,” Padgett said Tuesday. "It’s huge but it’s obviously bigger if you can find a way to come out and get a win. It could be program-changing.
“It’s the marquee -- I know Auburn right now -- but in the state, Alabama is the marquee name in the state for all sports. Being able to go beat them, or play them -- either one is good for our program.”
Alabama, off to its slowest start through nine games since 2010-11, could be vulnerable. The Tide were locked in a close game with multiple second-half lead changes against another Southern Conference opponent, Furman, at home last month.
However, Alabama is coming off what could be an encouraging road loss to Penn State in which Oats’ squad led by nine points in the second half over the Nittany Lions, who are ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press poll this week.
“Nobody thought we’d be 4-5, especially myself," Oats said Tuesday on WJOX. “It has been a tough schedule. We’ve played some hard teams. We’ve had some injuries. Not to make excuses. We’ve got to do a better job, we’ve got to close out games.”
Three Alabama players who were held out of practice last week and again Monday were limited on Tuesday, Oats said. Herb Jones (elbow), Alex Reese (foot) and Beetle Bolden (hand/wrist) are all expected to play Wednesday, and Oats hopes the five-day Christmas break -- after Saturday’s game and before practice resumes ahead of a Dec. 29 game against Richmond -- will help his banged-up team heal.
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December 18, 2019 at 08:00PM
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Alabama basketball looks to earn road win in Birmingham - AL.com
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