TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama coach Nate Oats is not one to make excuses, although he could have.
He could have said a 79-73 loss to Tennessee Saturday night would have been averted if the injured Aden Holloway and Amari Allen — who average 29 points per game combined — had played.
He could have said the No. 17-ranked Crimson Tide nearly won despite getting few uncontested shots, despite the Volunteers’ long wingspan that made Alabama feel as if it was operating in a shoebox, maybe even with one shoe missing, despite never getting the fast break going, despite never unfurling its chief weapon — the three-pointer — well enough to make UT scream for mercy…