Bama’s Oats excuses pressing Mizzou player

Jeff Borzello, ESPN Personnel WriterJan 16, 2024, 11:02 PM ET

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Oats apologized for pressing Missouri forward Aidan Shaw toward his bench during a conflict in between Shaw and Alabama guard Aaron Estrada in the Crimson Tide’s 93-75 win on Tuesday.Estrada had fouled Missouri’s Anthony Robinson II after a rebound with 7:34 left in the very first half. The two players got tangled up, and Shaw stepped up to Estrada as Robinson left. Oats then stepped between Estrada and Shaw to separate them and pressed Shaw in the direction of the Missouri bench.After the game, Oats stated he asked forgiveness to both Shaw and Missouri coach Dennis Gates.

“I have all the regard worldwide for the task [Gates has]

done as an assistant and head coach, “Oats said.”No disrespect to him or his program. I apologized to both Coach Gates and Aidan Shaw. Aidan seems like a great kid. It’s an unfortunate situation, but I asked forgiveness to both of them.”In Gates’ postgame press conference, he confirmed Oats apologized but also questioned why

Oats wasn’t assessed a technical foul.” Nate asked forgiveness after the game,”Gates said.”However I just presented the concern: If that was players in a huddle with a hand on an opponent, what would happen? It would be an automatic technical nasty, best? I believed I saw 2 referees in the huddle. It wasn’t a technical foul. But that’s the question I would present. If it was players making hand contact, what would happen?” There are no particular standards for this in the SEC Commissioner’s Regulations for 2023-24, aside from a recommendation to SEC Bylaw 10.5, which specifies,”All people used by or connected with a member insulation, consisting of institutional team member, student-athletes, boosters, and fans, are expected to conduct themselves with sincerity, integrity, and great sportsmanship, and shall for that reason exhibit respect and courtesy towards opposing student-athletes, coaches, and game authorities.”There were no more occurrences in Alabama’s win, after which Oats jogged toward the half-court line at the last buzzer to shake Gates’

hand and talk with him before the rest of his group and staff.Alabama has now won 6 games in a row to improve to 12-5 overall and 4-0 in the SEC, while Missouri( 8-9, 0-4 )has actually dropped 4 in a row and 7 of its previous eight.