Ninjas. B-2s. Black widows. Panthers.

There are plenty of stealthy things in this world, but perhaps the most impressive recent silent strike took place today as Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne named Buffalo’s Nate Oats to be the next head basketball coach.

In tomorrow’s piece we were actually going to profile Oats: there is no midmajor coach more on the rise than Buffalo’s head man. He took the momentum that Bobby Hurley achieved in Upstate New York, then ratcheted up the tempo, the recruiting, the points, and the national profile — earning a 32-4 record in 2018-2019, a No. 15 national ranking, and a 6-seed in the NCAA tournament. He is among the leaders for national coach of the year. He has won back-to-back MAC COTY titles, won the MAC three times in his four seasons, and made the NCAA tournament in 2016, 2018, and 2019.

The Buffalo News has an outstanding profile on what Oats built, first in Detroit, and then at UB.

In terms of watchability, this is about as slam dunk of a hire as they come. Oats’ style of play will intrigue fans. It is not helter skelter, however — he is regarded as an offensive guru running an offense very similar to Thad Matta’s, though perhaps more eclectic. It isolates shooters, frees up slashers, and puts points on the board. Sometimes described as a motion-transition offense, it incorporates a lot of weave, off-ball screens, isos, and some high-low post game. When given the opportunity, the Bulls will run in transition — they look to get up the floor. And in the half-court with emphasis on spacing, the primary goal of the offense is movement and freedom — wings and guards in particular will love it.

Details of the contract remain to be released, but this is an outstanding hire.

If Oats can replicate the success that he’s had elsewhere in his entire career, then the 44-year old will welcome Alabama to national relevance, folks.

Roll Tide