Nate Oats critical of Alabama star guard Mark Sears after 4-of-17 outing in Auburn loss

In the aftermath of No. 2 Alabama’s 94-85 defeat to No. 1 Auburn on Saturday, head coach Nate Oats did not hold back in his assessment of star guard Mark Sears’ performance. Sears, who led the team with 18 points, struggled with his shooting, connecting on just 4 of 17 attempts from the field, including 2 of 11 from three-point range. Oats emphasized the need for Sears to make better decisions, particularly when his shots aren’t falling. He suggested that on off nights, Sears should focus on facilitating the offense, aiming for assists rather than forcing shots. This critique comes as Alabama faces a challenging schedule ahead, with six consecutive games against ranked opponents, making Sears’ role and decision-making crucial for the team’s success.