Nate Oats said he enjoyed his ‘chess match’ against Mark Pope in their first head-to-head battle at Rupp Arena back in January, two of the best offensive minds in college basketball leading their programs to a combined 199 points in the 102-97 win for Alabama.

“They’re a very good team,” he said of Kentucky at the time. “… He’s done an unbelievable job, they’re playing a great style of basketball. … I’m happy for him.”

He was complimentary of Pope knowing a rematch was coming the following month, this time in Tuscaloosa on Oats’ home floor. The Wildcats had their opportunities to get them the first go-round, and now, the Crimson Tide are expecting the best of the blue and white as they look for revenge.

It’s coming with Alabama on a two-game losing streak after that win at Kentucky began a seven-game winning streak.

“We’ve got to correct the ship here a little bit. Kentucky has been playing well,” Oats said of the Wildcats, coming off a blowout win over Vanderbilt despite missing three guards in the rotation. “They’ve got some injuries going on themselves, but I think they’ve kind of galvanized themselves and played some pretty tough basketball here lately. So we’ve got to be ready to go.”

Both teams are NCAA Tournament locks, the Tide opening as a No. 1 seed and No. 2 overall in the official March Madness bracket preview show, announced by the DI Men’s Basketball Committee. The Wildcats were a No. 3 seed and No. 10 overall — two juggernauts in the league with some of the best wins in the sport.

Considering the injury circumstances, Oats couldn’t be more impressed with Pope and where he’s put Kentucky at this point as quickly as he has. At their best, the Wildcats are legitimate contenders.

“I think Pope’s done a really good job there. Their non-conference was great, they had quality wins. It really helped the SEC out, they beat Duke. I don’t know when the last time he’s had everybody fully available,” Oats said. “I think (Kerr) Kriisa is obviously done for the year, so when I count fully available, I kind of don’t count Kriisa. I don’t know when the last time he’s had everybody, even when he’s had Butler and Robinson — the whole crew. When they’ve been healthy, they’ve been one of the best teams in the country.”

Even where things stand today with Jaxson Robinson, Lamont Butler and Kerr Kriisa all out, Oats knows this group is a threat to go into Coleman Coliseum and leave with a win. Why? Pope’s guys want to play for him, no matter if they’re at the top of the rotation or very bottom.

That always gives you a chance.

“It’s hard. I mean, I’ve been there before, and we’ve had injuries different years. We’ve got them this year. … I think Mark’s done a great job,” Oats said. “I think they run really good stuff. Even now with all the injuries they’ve had, they’ve kind of galvanized themselves. He’s playing guys that weren’t in the rotation at all before, and I think they’re playing super hard. For me, he seems like a guy that guys want to play hard for. I think he’s doing a good job.

“But it’s sports — you’re usually not as good as you are when you’ve got your full squad. I think that’s what’s going on there, a little bit with some of the stuff in conference for them.”

Alabama is hungry, too, looking to end its own losing streak and figure out some of its glaring defensive woes. The Tide are in a good spot going into the postseason, but there is still plenty of time for every team in college basketball to unravel with a few weeks before conference tournaments begin.

The message to his team? Play like their hair is on fire and do whatever it takes to earn the season sweep.

“We’ve got to come out like we’ve got our hair on fire, like the season is riding on the line,” Oats said. “There’s a lot still riding on this game. It’s NCAA Tournament seeding, SEC Tournament seeding, it’s giving yourself a chance to still be in it if things fall certain ways at the end of the year.

“Two weeks from tomorrow, the regular season is over. With all the time and effort these guys have put into being elite basketball players, why don’t you put everything you have into finishing the year out the way that you want to finish it out? Then let’s see where it falls. Let’s see what happens.”