Grand Canyon shot 37 free throws against Alabama. Why Nate Oats doesn't blame the refs
SPOKANE, Wash. — Alabama basketball guard Aaron Estrada took the ball aggressively to the cup in the first half of an NCAA Tournament game against Grand Canyon on Sunday, made contact with a defender and watched his shot get sent back as he careened to the floor.
No foul was called, and coach Nate Oats was incensed. He earned himself a technical foul moments later. Senior forward Nick Pringle was whistled for another tech about seven minutes later for slamming a clipboard on the floor while sitting on the bench.
Those two instances, along with some other ill-advised infractions, are what Oats blames for the 37-22 disparity at the foul line between the Lopes and Crimson Tide in Spokane Arena. Alabama won despite the discrepancy, 72-61, to advance to the Sweet 16. It closed the final 3:49 of the game on a 10-0 run.
MARK'S MADNESS: As Mark Sears goes, so will Alabama basketball in NCAA Tournament
FOOTBALL: Alabama, Kalen DeBoer land commitment in 2025 three-star linebacker Luke Metz
"Probably a little of both," Oats said when asked if his team was too physical or the whistles were too liberal. "Look, to be honest, we fouled two 3-point shooters. That gave them six. I looked at them. We fouled them. Those were correct calls. We had two Ts. That's another four. Take 10 off and all of a sudden it's 27-22 and it's not really as big of a discrepancy. We've got to do a better job of not fouling jump shooters.
"Sears (also) fouled a jump shooter. They got eight free throws off of jump shooters and four off Ts. Like, don't foul jump shooters (and) don't do stupid things to get Ts. Take those 12 away and its pretty even. They were physical, we were physical. If it had been 25-22, no one would be talking about it. We've got to do a better job not putting them on the line on some plays that we shouldn't be putting them on the line like 3-point shots and jumpers."
The No. 4 Crimson Tide will play No. 1 North Carolina in the Sweet 16 on Thursday (approximately 8:45 p.m. CT, CBS).
Richard Silva is a sports reporter for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rich_silva18.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama basketball: Nate Oats won't blame refs for Grand Canyon's FTs
