The Crimson Tide head coach weighs the importance of Saturday's home game against the Wildcats, as SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament seeding are on the line.

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.

Alabama basketball and head coach Nate Oats needed to bounce back in a big way Saturday. Both took two massive losses to Auburn and Missouri before facing No. 17 Kentucky. Oats is now standing alone in the Alabama record books.