When Alabama F Tevin Mack announced he was withdrawing from the 2019 NBA Draft, speculation started immediately about whether he’d return to the Crimson Tide or transfer to his third school (after starting his career at Texas).

We didn’t have to wait long for the answer, as it was revealed earlier this week that he would indeed explore graduate transfer options.

On Wednesday, at SEC spring meetings in Florida, new Alabama coach Nate Oats gave a very honest response when asked about Mack’s decision to transfer (via AL.com):

“I’ve been on the job two months now,” Oats said, “if after two months, you’re not comfortable with us as a staff and if there is questions in your head about whether this is the right spot for you, then this isn’t the right spot for you, which is fine. We have to get the right guys on the bus moving forward. We want guys who really want to be here.”

Oats expanded on that later in the interview.

“I think you see that with some of the kids who left us,” Oats said. “We weren’t their first school. Some guys are going to go play for their third or fourth coaches. So, at some point you can’t run from adversity every single time there’s a little bit of adversity in your life.”

Oats has had some success convincing players to return to Alabama — notably, PG Kira Lewis Jr. and G John Petty. However, Mack clearly had different ideas.

Where he ends up next remains to be seen, but Oats seems to be moving on and looking to fill Mack’s roster spot.