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The Alabama basketball season came to an end in the Elite Eight on Saturday after a loss to one-seed Duke in New Jersey. The Crimson Tide will now have to watch rival Auburn compete in the Final Four.
Those Tigers took pleasure in Alabama’s NCAA Tournament exit as they look to bring home the state’s first national title. They twisted the knife further by sparking a widespread panic in Tuscaloosa.
The Alabama-Auburn rivalry is one well-known on the football field, but it’s been put under the national spotlight on the basketball floor, too, given the schools’ recent success. The programs have produced four of the last five SEC regular season champs. They’ve also won three of the last five conference tournaments.
The Crimson Tide have made back-to-back appearances in the Elite Eight, with one Final Four to show. The Tigers have made two Final Fours in the last six years.
Each was considered a national championship contender this March with Auburn landing the top overall seed and Alabama securing a spot on the two-line. Unfortunately for the Tide, they ran into the buzzsaw that is Duke over the weekend.
Nate Oats’ bunch was beaten soundly by the Blue Devils, 85-65. They fell well below their NCAA Tournament scoring average of over 94 points per game.
Soon after that loss, online rumors swirled of Oats’ interest in the open Maryland job. Those fabricated claims were floated by Auburn burners.
#BREAKING: Nate Oats has emerged as the frontrunner to be the next HC at Maryland, per source.
I’m told Oats has become increasingly frustrated with the NIL situation at Alabama, as most of the funds have been diverted to football. pic.twitter.com/KnYL3BZ2HI
— Rob Reinhart (@RealRobReinhart) March 31, 2025
The Terrapins are searching for a new head coach following the dramatic exit of Kevin Willard to Villanova. Oats was supposedly named a top replacement candidate.
The social media speculation landed attention from national analysts, including Jeff Goodman. Those unsubstantiated whispers sparked hysteria within the fanbase.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats has no interest in the vacant Maryland job, source told @thefieldof68.
There’s been some recent chatter about Oats and the Terps job.
No truth to it.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 31, 2025
Nate Oats is making over $5 million at Alabama. He’s one of the sport’s highest paid coaches. He recently signed an extension to keep him in Tuscaloosa through at least 2029.
At face value, it was an unlikely move given Willard’s split with Maryland. He cited unhappiness with a lack of investment being made in his program as reasoning for the departure. Still, followers ran with the speculation.
Alabama has made a commitment to Nate Oats. He’s not going anywhere. It didn’t stop Auburn from igniting fear into its rival while celebrating its Final Four run.
NEWS: Reports saying that Nate Oats has no interest in the Maryland head coaching position are false, per sources.
I’m told that Oats is very much open to the possibility, and that Alabama is trying its hardest to keep him despite a strong push by Maryland.
— Rob Reinhart (@RealRobReinhart) March 31, 2025
It’s not the first time we’ve seen fake social media claims cause confusion amongst college basketball fans. Last year, online lies forced Georgetown coach Ed Cooley to respond to false speculation about his interest in the Virginia job.
Social media was also an instrument used by spurned Xavier fans as a way of getting back at Sean Miller after he bailed for Texas this offseason. It can be a powerful tool.
Alabama basketball fans can rest easy knowing their head coach isn’t leaving for another gig. Auburn burners got a short-lived laugh at a rival’s expense from the chaos created.