The offense in 2023-24 isn’t drastically different; It is still Oats’ offense that he has built through the years. However, there have been some tweaks to take it to the next level. New players brought new abilities. The return of others saw continued development. Also, Pannone brought a few ideas (He had offensive input conceptually in the summer and fall. Then he ran the defense for a portion of nonconference play before Oats moved Pannone to offense with Bauman while Oats switched to running the defense himself).
“What people don’t understand about Nate Oats is, one of his elite qualities is his openness,” Pannone said. “All he wants to do is find answers to get better. A grad assistant could give him an idea, and he’s going to listen.”
One concept: Shrink threes.
Pannone and Oats began talking about them before Pannone was even on staff. Then with Pannone on staff, Alabama adopted the concept this season.
What are shrink threes? They are essentially more efficient 3-pointers, taken when the defense must collapse in the paint, opening up a shooter from beyond the arc. The defense has to shrink, creating the opportunity for an open catch-and-shoot 3-pointer.
“That’s where we’re trying to get our guys,” Oats said. “Don’t take bad threes. Take these shrink threes. Pannone brought that concept in.”
Another new idea: Moving the big to a new spot.
Alabama has put its bigs on the perimeter more instead of playing them closer to the basket in the dunkers spot, which is just outside the lane near the baseline. But not to shoot necessarily: It's to help facilitate offense.
“He’s always going to be open,” Pannone said. “If you get there and don’t have anything, just go find the Five … He’s like the release valve.”
Nick Pringle has been invaluable for the offense in that way. He is described as a connector: His job is to connect the offense from one side of the floor to the other. Other players do that as well, but each coach raved about Pringle’s ability specifically.
“Nick Pringle does an unbelievable job of screening for others,” Bauman said. “He’s probably as good of a big we’ve had at creating shots for others off screens. He’s really unselfish that way.”
That’s just one example of selfless play in this offense, something Oats, Bauman and Pannone cited as a key ingredient.
Said Oats: "To have guys like Aaron, Wrightsell, Sears, guys that could continue to settle for less efficient, more selfish shots instead of getting the most efficient, best shot for the team as a whole ... you couldn’t put together an offense like this.”