It looks like Alabama is going to figure out a way to keep Nate Oats, which means he won't be taking the Tar Heels job. That's another rumored target off the list. Vanderbilt's Mark Byington is also likely going to stay where he is, and although I thought that was a Plan B target at best, he is no longer an option.
Oats, however, was a name often mentioned out the gate as a guy that Carolina might go after. From the basketball side, it made a lot of sense. Oats won big at Buffalo, which is a hard thing to do, and has killed it at Alabama. In seven years with the Tide, he has five Sweet 16 appearances, one Elite Eight (2023) and one Final Four (2024).
On the court, there's a great argument that Oats should be Carolina's top choice. But off the court, most Tar Heels fans are rightfully a little apprehensive.
We are good! He’s not going anywhere! https://t.co/mlIvzDWAYe#RollTide 🏀 pic.twitter.com/4kRdwPooCV
— Greg Byrne (@Greg_Byrne) March 29, 2026
UNC should be glad to cross Nate Oats off the list
Alabama was a solid team this season. The Tide got back in the Sweet 16 before getting rolled by Michigan. But there was so much outside drama surrounding this program. The Charles Bediako stuff was kind of embarrassing. He signed an NBA contract! Whether he was good as a pro or not is another discussion, but he had already played in college, left to go pro, signed a contract with an NBA team (San Antonio) and then, after toiling around in the G League, tried to come back. And Oats was cool was this.
I guess that's fine for Alabama. There's nothing that Oats could ever do there that would change the Tide from being a football school. But imagine if he tried something similar at Carolina? That's a clown show that the Tar Heels don't want any part of.
I guess that's fine for Alabama. There's nothing that Oats could ever do there that would change the Tide from being a football school, so no one there really cares. But imagine if he tried something similar at Carolina? That's a clown show that the Tar Heels don't want any part of. Oats has brought some great players to Alabama. Heck, I'd sign up to watch Labaron Philon Jr. any day of the week. But, if the Aden Holloway situation is any indication, there are a lot of things that Oats should be worried about that he isn't worried about.
Again, those things might fly in Alabama, but Carolina basketball has a greater standard of conduct for its players. Oats is right to stay there and Carolina should be happy to move on.