Oats, who joined Alabama in 2019, boasts a solid record and multiple SEC titles, while Sears, a standout at Ohio, has helped lead Alabama’s high-scoring offense. Sears recently earned consensus first-team All-American honors, leading Alabama with 18.7 points and 4.9 assists per game. With their shared MAC connections and a strong track record in Cleveland, they’re looking to make a deep run in March Madness.
The No. 2 seed Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team is heading to Cleveland for their NCAA Tournament opener this Friday, but for head coach Nate Oats and guard Mark Sears, the venue feels like home. Both have roots in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), with Oats having coached at Buffalo and Sears having played at Ohio University before transferring to Alabama.
