The Coleman Coliseum ended a season with the rims naked a while ago.
After beating Auburn 70-58 on Tuesday night, the nylon was distributed among almost everyone connected to the Alabama basketball program. Even Nate Oats’ youngest daughter had a few in the seats after the two nets were cut off from the edges to celebrate Alabama’s SEC’s first regular season title since 2002.
It was an exciting time for veterans who went through the highs of a victory in an NCAA tournament as freshmen to a terrible NIT defeat and change of coach a year later. Oats said he saw tears in Alex Reese’s eyes as they celebrated with the few thousands allowed in the arena for the last home game of the season.
The fan favorite, Herbert Jones, had all kinds of thoughts in his mind as he cut his piece.
“It took me back to the days, the hard losses on the road or at home,” said Jones. “Being chosen for the NIT, all of this was going through my mind cutting the nets and knowing that we deserve to cut those nets. The work we put in, all of this was going through my head. “
Just two years ago, a terrible 80-79 NIT loss to Norfolk State on the same floor created a horrible scene. Fans booed coach Avery Johnson when he left for what turned out to be the last time.
Stars like John Petty had to be convinced to return after Oats took over. The Huntsville product faces another crossroads after last season, when the NBA Draft was an option. Ultimately, he returned to Alabama for what has been a dream season in Tuscaloosa.
“I thank God every day for waking up that I made that decision because, in my heart and in my mind, this is the most certain decision I have ever made in my life,” said Petty on Tuesday night. “Everything we’ve been through this year and we’re still going through, all the victories, ups and downs, I don’t regret at all. These were the best four years of my life with just everything – maturity and everything – cutting those nets, everything went through me. “
Alabama (20-6) has another regular season game in Georgia before entering the postseason game. Oats said he will give the team a full day off on Wednesday, before starting work on Saturday’s tip at 1 pm CT in Athens, because it has been very difficult in recent weeks.
He knows how special this moment is for a program that has fought mediocrity for more than a decade. Oats deflected the spotlight to his players because he plans to train for another 20-25 years and does not plan this to be the last network he will make.
“They only get one chance at this thing,” said Oats with one of the nets on the table next to him. “I am very, very happy to see the emotion, the joy and everything on their faces. I can see how excited Reese was and I was happy for him. “
Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or in the Facebook.