Paul Finebaum sets goal and issues challenge for Nate Oats and Alabama
Paul Finebaum has a simple expectation for Alabama as it enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, and Nate Oats specifically.
“I think he has to take it to where Alabama basketball has never gone, that’s very simple, it’s the Final Four,” he said on his regular appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic In the morning” on WJOX out of Birmingham, Alabama.
Finebaum recalled the time 20 years ago when the Crimson Tide made the Sweet 16, and recalled how teams coached by CM Newton and Wimp Sanderson “never escaped” the second weekend.
“I think that’s what it’s all about, the Elite 8 is no longer the benchmark, it used to be, until Bruce Pearl took Auburn to the Final Four,” Finebaum said.
Finebaum clarified that the goal is not to win the championship: “This isn’t football, where you start the season ranked No. 1 as Nick Saban has so many times and anything but winning feels like a failure. I think the Final Four is the goal because it would be sad to use a word that can be interpreted in many different ways, but it’s a little stronger than disappointing to see Alabama, after all this, not make it to the final weekend of the year.”
The @SECNetwork‘s Paul @Finebaum joined @MacandCube to discuss what @AlabamaMBB needs to accomplish in the NCAA Tournament to make this the best season in school history.
Whole interview: https://t.co/cKWa6iMAZX pic.twitter.com/KFTecszUCd
— WJOX 94.5 FM (@WJOX945) March 13, 2023
Bald idiot knows zilch about football, now he’s a basketball guru?
Yep. The world wonders.
I’m still deciding if I want to knock Alabama out in the first round that they play in, or let them get near or to the final 4!!!! Only to lose then!!!!! LOL
PS. We shall see!!!!! LOL
NO PRESSURE ON THE GUMP FAMILY!!! LOL
Negan
Getting to the Final Four is a very challenging task. It’s not always the best teams but the teams that get hot and play the best at the right time.
Bama slumped and looked almost bored at the end of the SEC regular season and it showed on the court. The SEC tournament was a different beast as they came ready to play and dominated the competition. Bama is the best team in the country when they play to their potential and I hope that play continues this weekend and beyond.
It’s not always the best teams but the teams that get hot and play the best at the right time…
Wouldn’t that mean…ahh never mind
I disagree with Paul here. He doesn’t have to take Bama near that far, as far as basketball is concerned Bama is still just enjoying the ride they’re on. No pressure, no one is expecting more than where they’re at right now.
I disagree. As a Bama fan, this is our best chance ever to get to a Final Four. The door is open and we have a pretty favorable bracket.
Since Oats has arrived, expectations have changed from just making the NCAAT to making it far in the NCAAT. He’s been here 4 years and we’ve now been a 2 seed, 6 seed, and the #1 overall seed. I hope this team makes the Sweet 16, at the very least, and then see where the chips fall. We are definitely good enough to win it all so the expectations are a bit higher!
Yeah it may be your best chance up to this point but it’s not Final 4 or bust, that’s just not the expectation of the program. Lets say Bama loses in RD2, is Oats really going to be on the hot seat, or even close to it? No, not close at all. Sure it will be disappointing but no where close to a “it’s time we find a coach who can get us over the hump” kind of situation at Bama.
Oats is one of, if not the best coach in the SEC right now so of course he wouldn’t be on the hot seat. I think you’re mistaken though as it would be a massive disappointment if Bama lost in the R32 after the season we just had.
Yes I said it would be disappointing, just like any high seed gets disappointed being knocked out early. Still not F4 or bust like Finebaum is trying to convey.
I agree this is a special year for Bama. And like said since he arrived and has had Bama playing as well as any other SEC team during that time I think a final four is due. With a team as special as this one there is pressure to deliver. At the same time I think Bama can do it this is a talented team he has assembled. The only team I think that has more talent then Bama that could challenge them and beat them is Duke. It hurts me saying that being a UK fan but Duke is loaded with talent and beginning to play there best ball. They also dealt with lots of injuries and are fully healthy now. They are 16-1 when fully healthy. I hope I’m wrong about Duke and right about Bama. Roll Tide!
THe Standard…….All I heard for the last few years is how Alabama is dangerous. Even the top team at times. We know they are playing a proven gang banger!!!! How is that even legal?????
No pressure! Alabama is obviously the best!!!! Absolutely the best distraction from your dead football dynasty!!!!!! Got ran over by a red & black bus! LOL
PS. Who killed that dynasty anyway? Did y’all get the tag number of that bus????
Negan
I like Mizzou chances to make the sweet sixteen.
I do too. Utah State can beat us, but if we get past them I think we have a punchers chance to beat Arizona.
Arizona has such an inexplicable history at NCAA tournaments you have to wonder if the ghosts of tournaments past haunt the wildcats.
There’s immense pressure as a 1 seed and even more as the overall #1. It’s the best regular season of basketball EVER for Bama, so my thought is anything short of a sweet sixteen appearance is embarrassing. However, I wouldn’t go quite as far as Paul because this isn’t football. In basketball, teams and players get streaky and tournament upsets happen frequently. That’s the beauty of basketball.
So my thought is, Virginia Teck s u c k s in everything
A well thought out and highly intelligent comment, no doubt your family is proud of you.
We are proud of him. It really doesn’t take much time or effort to describe anything about Missouri.
The only team that can beat ‘Bama this year is ‘Bama!
Let’s not get to c o c k y. One game at a time. Let’s focus on the game Thursday between SEMO and AMCC.
DEATH OF A DYNASTY…..
Y’all listen up. Leave the gang-banger and the Gump basketball team alone. They are doing a great job of dealing with the Tuscaloosa sadness over the death of the football dynasty!!! You don’t see them poking fun of every hair falling out of Saban’s head!!!! No while some in Tuscaloosa lose their mind and freak out. Every time there is another missing hair or heaven forbid one falls out ON SCREEN in coaches weekly show!!!
Isn’t it about time. That those hurting in Tuscaloosa. Be given something for their loss? Given something for their very real grief and pain???? These people will NEVER be able to enjoy the colors RED & BLACK ever again! Orange will always be distasteful to them as well. And face it the yellow gold and black of LSU will not do them any favors!!!! Maybe the only thing these people can hold on to. Is the fact that Dan Mullen was not a part of the death of a dynasty! Yes, the Gus bus did run over the tide dynasty on several occasions. Yet it is likely nothing compared to the DEEP FREEZE on the way out of auburn Alabama! Considering Hugh Freeze record vs Saban and as a program builder in general. Face it THE FORECAST LOOKS BAD FOR THE TUSCALOOSA AREA! Then you’ll be able to add the auburn colors to the mix that Alabama fans will hate!!!!!! To make it worse. People is Tuscaloosa will soon hear WAR EAGLE on every city street and by over half the state of Alabama…..
The Freeze warning could very well effect even FAIR WEATHER FANS. People who switched from auburn to Alabama after the Saban dynasty took hold. These fans who now cry ROLL TIDE. They could soon be crying loudly ROLL THE TIDE! AND, WAR EAGLE!!!! We do not know the extent of the damage the Freeze warning will have at this time…..
We do know it comes at a time when Nick Saban’s Alabama has lost to Tennessee. Moment of silence please….. That coming on the heels of having their A…$$ handed to them 33-18 by THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS GEORGIA!!!!!! Yes, Saban lost to Tennessee on an official REVENGE TOUR. The revenge tour from Hades!!!! As Alabama was unable to beat much of anyone to their standards!
A truly great boxer was once known as THE RAGING BULL and for good reason. He was a bull and always mad!!!! Saban is also ALWAYS MAD and in his day. He was once a bull among coaches!!! But it’s just not right to steal one legends nickname to put it on another…YET I’VE FOUND THE ANSWER….
Saban shall be known as THE AGING BULL$HIT ARTIST!!!!! We’ll shorten it to THE AGING BULL!!!!
Instead of the revenge tour. We saw the CRYING GAMES!!! As Saban was forced to add teams to his little R-B$ BOOK OF REVENGE…… Georgia and Tennessee were now on the list. So Tuscaloosa fans couldn’t decide if they wanted Georgia or Tennessee in Atlanta. So for reasons known only to Gumps. They chose Tennessee, as if it was their choice!!!! Maybe, or probably they were just HOPING???? They already got curb-stomped by Georgia who hadn’t missed a beat! Tennessee only barely beat them. Playing the odds I guess???? STILL THE AGING BULL HAD JUST LOST TO TENNESSEE!!!!!
THE AGING BULL HAD LOST TO GEORGIA 2 TIMES OFFICIALLY AND LOTS OF TIMES UNOFFICIALLY. THE 2017 NATTY BEING THE MOST FAMOUS!!!! NOW HE JUST LOST TO TENNESSEE. IN THE NO CIGARS FOR ALABAMA BOWL!!!
ALABAMA FANS SAID OH ITS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE. BECAUSE NOW WE’LL BE READY IN ATLANTA!!! PLUS WE ALWAYS LOSE ONE THEN GO ON UNBEATABLE MODE. THIS IS ALABAMA PEOPLE!!!!!!
Nothing seemed to improve as they survived a game vs A&M they clearly would have lost. If A&M had one or two more plays left after the terrible last call!!! Alabama fans found out. Milroe wasn’t superman in waiting!!!
NOW IT WAS REAL. THE AGING BULL WAS INDEED ON THE ROPES!!!! AND A 2 POINT PLAY BY LSU KNOCKED THE AGING BULL OUT!!!!! GEORGIA NEVER NEEDED TO EMBARRASS HIM BY FINISHING THE JOB!!!!!
This knockout allowed Alabama fans to hang on to their dreams of NEXT YEAR!!! Only now instead of WE BRING BACK A HEISMAN WINNER AT QB AND HAHA YOUR STAR WIDE RECEIVER. WE ALSO HAVE THE BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL COMING BACK!!! Instead, Alabama brings back. A team full of QUESTION MARKS!!!! But never fear because Alabama still has THE AGING BULL$HIT ARTIST…..THE LEGENDARY CRYBABY HIMSELF NICK BALDMAN OH SORRY SABAN!!!
Never bet against THE AGING BULL$… ARTIST….. Not unless the improvement is less than hoped or unless he’s playing Georgia!!!! Georgia win lose or draw in 23 are the current dynasty!!!!! They clearly broke the back of Alabama in the national championship game 2021 season and then went BACK TO BACK!!!!!!
GEORGIA WENT 15-0 INCLUDING A DOMINANT 65-7 WIN OVER TCU IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. IT COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN 85-7 HAD GEORGIA WANTED THAT!!!!
The officials spotted Alabama 14 points with bad calls and yet GEORGIA WON 33-18 EASILY AGAINST ALABAMA IN 2021. Then Georgia did the unthinkable BEATING TCU 65-7 in the 2022 national championship game going BACK TO BACK!!!!!
GEORGIA BECAME THE FIRST TEAM IN THE PLAYOFF ERA TO EVER GO BACK TO BACK AS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!! IN 2023 THEY WILL LOOK TO GOD WILLING BECOME THE ONLY TEAM TO EVER TRULY 3PEAT! THEY WILL LIKELY BE RANKED #1 IN THE COUNTRY IN THE AP TO START THE 2023 SEASON!
Alabama is not a dead program. But the definition of dynasty just doesn’t apply to Alabama at this moment!!!
PS. Want the real definition of dynasty? Win, lose or draw in 2023. Look no further than THE CLASSIC CITY NOW THE LEGENDARY CITY OF ATHENS GEORGIA!!!!
Athens Greece has mount Olympus and they created the Olympics!!! Georgia has STONE MOUNTAIN AND THE OLYMPIC CITY!!! Georgia has ATHENS as well!!! And now Georgia has a BACK TO BACK DYNASTY!!!! God willing we will have a 3peat in 2023!!!!!!!!
Negan
K
You waste alot of time beating a dead horse. If the dynasty is really dead, why keep talking about it. We all know that you know that the dynasty is still alive, and has you shaking in your boots.