On Tuesday night, in Alabama's game against the Missouri Tigers (a team that USC beat over the weekend), some physical play and extracurricular activity saw tempers flare a bit near the Tide's bench.
Nothing really came of it between players as freshman guard Anthony Robinson (Missouri) and senior guard Aaron Estrada (Alabama) were separated by officials pretty easily. However, when sophomore forward Aidan Shaw (Missouri) stepped up to say something to Estrada, Alabama head coach Nate Oats got involved.
It is typical for coaches to step between players when things get physical or even when players are mouthing off at each other. It is also typical for coaches to say something to opposing players or their own players to de-escalate the situation. It is even typicaly for coaches to grab their guys and pull them away from whatever confrontation is taking place.
However, what is not typical is for a coach to put his hands on an opposing player and shove them away. Yet, that is exactly what Nate Oats did to Shaw, pointing back toward the Missouri bench afterward, yelling "Get out!"
Nate Oats is a clown
— Braden Borman (@middle_Borman) January 17, 2024
I’ve never seen a coach be allowed to push an opposing player before 🤔@SECOfficiating @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/Y4vTFFTuii
Missouri senior forward Noah Carter witnessed the whole thing but was so taken by surprise with what happened next to him that he did a double-take and only reacted after he had a few seconds to process the fact that a head coach would shove his teammate.
Thankfully, the two teams were already far enough apart that the officials could keep anything else from happening, but Missouri went on a run to close out the 1st half after the incident.
Oats could face some discipline from the SEC for what transpired in Tuscaloosa.
Tonight, the Gamecocks will play the Georgia Bulldogs in their fourth game of the SEC season.