Alabama Basketball Coach Nate Oats Has Hilarious Response About Football Team

At The University of Alabama, football will always be king. That's what happens when a program is gifted with two of the greatest coaches of all time.

With decades of winning cemented into the foundation of the football program, fans have become accustomed to watching the Crimson Tide roll over most opponents.

During that same time, however, the Alabama faithful also had to suffer through a relatively mediocre basketball program that was praised for just making the NCAA Tournament.

Just making the tournament is no longer an accomplishment after sixth-year head coach Nate Oats transformed the program into one of the most prominent in the sport. Nonetheless, Oats knows he has a lot of catching up to do if he wants his program to even things up with the football squad.

"You know, we're still 18 national championships behind football," Oats said about being ranked higher than the football team.

Oats also voiced his excitement about the football team and what he expects from them throughout the rest of the season.

"They'll be 12 teams going to the (college football) playoffs, and I'm assuming coach (Kalen) DeBoer will have his team in that 12," Oats said. "They (the football team) looked pretty good when I was at that game against Georgia."

Oats didn't show any signs of concern with the football team or where it is currently ranked in the A.P. Poll, and much like basketball, Oats knows that the important part is making the postseason field before stringing together a run.

Just stringing together a run won't be the mantra for this edition of the hoops team, though, as the Crimson Tide enter the season as the No. 2 team in the country according to the A.P. Poll . Alabama was also voted the preseason favorite to win the SEC, with guard Mark Sears being recognized atop the Preseason All-American list and National Player of the Year odds.

Related: Alabama Ranked Second in Preseason College Basketball AP Top 25