Alabama vs. Penn: 3 key storylines for 2019-20 matchup

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 19: John Petty #23 of the Alabama Crimson Tide defended by Jordan Bone #0 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half of their game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 19, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

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TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MARCH 22: Head coach Nate Oats of the Buffalo Bulls reacts from the sidelines during the second half of the first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Arizona State Sun Devils at BOK Center on March 22, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

First game for Alabama under Nate Oats

When Nate Oats first got the Alabama job, lots of questions pertaining to his coaching ability followed. I honestly do not know why this was the case. The past few years he was at Buffalo, Oats turned the Bulls into one of the deadliest mid-majors in America. It was also pretty clear that he is a better coach than Avery Johnson.

On Tuesday night, he will get the chance to make Alabama fans aware of how great he is. Tough mid-major teams like Penn are no secret to guys like Coach Oats. After all, he coached one. He knows the common approach taken and mentality adopted by mid-majors going into games against schools from power conferences. This will bode well for Alabama because Nate Oats knows exactly how to have his guys ready to combat the fire Penn will bring when they come to town.

Another thing that will be noticed when Bama takes the floor under Oats is how their fitness has improved. Oats prides himself on coaching teams that are the fittest on the floor. Fitness level and athleticism is something that made his Buffalo teams so tough. Sometimes last year, Alabama seemed sluggish and exhausted when trying to compete near the end of big games. This will change under Oats.

The Penn game will be a great opportunity for us to see Coach Oats’s preferred style in the SEC. It should be exciting.

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