Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats clarifies Mark Sears benching, Mississippi State status

Posted by author January 28, 2025 Basketball

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Alabama basketball star Mark Sears is not a lock to start against Mississippi State in a top-15 battle on the hardwood.

Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said he had not decided on his starting lineup after the sixth-year coach benched his star in the second half of a win over LSU on Saturday. No. 4 Alabama (17-3, 6-1 SEC) takes on the No. 13 Bulldogs (16-4, 4-3) in Starkville, Mississippi on Wednesday.

Oats benched Sears and center Cliff Omoruyi to start the second half vs. the Tigers. However, Omoruyi eventually returned and impressed Oats with his effort. Sears did not log any minutes in the second half.

“I don’t know who we’re gonna start. I haven’t determined that,” Oats said during media availability on Tuesday. “I didn’t mean to avoid your question earlier, but I don’t really know who’s gonna start this game.”

Sears helped Alabama reach the Final Four for the first time in program history last season. Eventual champion UConn eventually knocked the Crimson Tide out. Sears, who returned for his final season of eligibility this year, is averaging 18.1 points per game on 39.6% shooting.

However, he went scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting from the field, with three assists and two turnovers in 17 minutes against the Tigers. At halftime, with the score tied at 40-40, and Oats made his lineup adjustments for the second half.

In his availability on Tuesday, Oats went on to say that Sears “definitely had the best two days going into a game he’s had all year,” suggesting his decision to bench him resonated with his star.

“It was Mark and Cliff,” Oats said. “For various reasons, Cliff got the opportunity to then coming and play. But I think the message sent, and it’s the message we try to send in all of our decisions is, there’s nobody above the program, including the head coach.”

Continued Oats:

“Getting the best version getting the best version of Mark Sears is what’s best for this team, for this program and that’s what we plan on getting moving forward.”