Alabama suffered one of the most random losses in college basketball last week against Oklahoma. The loss in itself isn’t terrible; Oklahoma is a good, not great team in a loaded Big 12. That’s excusable.

But Saturday night, head coach Nate Oats saw a different Alabama team, and not in a good way. The Crimson Tide got thumped by Oklahoma, 93-69 to suffer their 3rd and by far ugliest loss of the season. Anyone who has watched the Tide this year immediately felt for Vanderbilt, which had to play Alabama last night in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama was ready this time, unloading on the Commodores for a 101-41 win, their largest margin of victory over an SEC team ever. On top of that, it was the largest win by an SEC team in-conference since 2003.

Postgame, Oats spoke about the Oklahoma loss and how it motivated them moving forward.

Nimari Burnett backed that up. The sophomore guard came off the bench and scored 16 points, the 2nd most of any Alabama player behind only Brandon Miller. He said postgame that the loss to Oklahoma was a necessary one.

Alabama can look on the bright side following the loss to Oklahoma and demolition of Vanderbilt. It  seems to be fully in the rearview for the team, Alabama remains undefeated in conference play and the Tide are still well on the 1-seed line moving forward.

Alabama is back in action Saturday against LSU.