How Alabama basketball is leaning into its newfound pressure

Copy Link

Email

Print

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- As Alabama head coach Nate Oats tried to explain his team's 110-98 loss to Missouri on Wednesday, a fire alarm interrupted the news conference.

"Your attention please! Your attention please!" a voice said as a siren blared. "A fire has been reported in the building."

The moment felt like a metaphor for the pressure cooker the Crimson Tide have found themselves in for the past year since losing to the eventual national champion UConn in their unexpected run to the Final Four -- and the journey they're on to earn another shot at the crown.

"We'd like to get back here and win this whole thing," Oats said after that loss to the Huskies. "And I think that's…