The University of Alabama’s traditional move to the Final Four was largely attributable to the group’s commitment to scientific thinking.
In 2019, Nate Oats traveled to Tuscaloosa, and the Crimson Tide was one of the first four users of the previously established baseball analysis business HD Intelligence.
Oats, a former high school math professor, has huge embraced numbers- driven wondering, from shot selection to list construction. He frequently mentioned HDI information in podcast press conferences, and he apparently had send Colton Houston and Matt Dover new requests and requests in the early morning.
He also seems to have turned different tutors on to the program, from Furman’s Bob Richey to the person Oats faces Saturday: UConn’s Dan Hurley. Hurley and Oats are longtime friends ( Oats also served on the staff of Dan’s brother, Bobby Hurley, at Buffalo ), and in 2022, CT Insider reported that the Bama coach introduced Hurley to HDI’s potential.

The recruiting process at UConn is reportedly based on innovative calculations, and the university also employs offensive set in order to place players in the areas of the court where they’ve been most successful.
” Nobody makes it out that we’re the only people doing the analysis and reliability, but Danny does it too”, Oats said during a press conference Thursday. Danny and I have spoken about it. They are also attempting to get the most effective photos.
But, Hurley has at times dismissed mathematics role in his system as he advocates a more hybrid strategy. ” You’ve got to trust your gut and your vision, in the end”, he said in 2022.
This time, five decades after it launched, HDI data was used by more than half of the 36 best- 9 seeds in this year’s event, the company said. The extra know-how ( and an reportedly five-figure annual fee ) has become close to a must-have for college programs that may not be able to develop their own metrics departments as analytics have come to dominate basketball.
Even smaller institutions —such as one of this year’s unhappy boys, Oakland—have tapped the company. Performance analysis is provided by HDI and other businesses, along with planning resources designed to increase schools ‘ chances of winning the NCAA Tournament.
Oats has mentioned a different business in pregame conversations this event: Michael Schwimer’s Sports Analytics Advantage, which now works with the Crimson Tide on everything from exchanges to match control. Former professional football player Schwarzer has used analytics to improve the services offered by the auditing firm, a now-defunct betting tips agency, and Big League Advantage, an investment company that offers sportsmen cash in exchange for a percentage of their future earnings.
According to treaties obtained by The Washington Post, the consulting firm charged Alabama$ 100, 000 for its solutions this year. If Oats gets by Hurley and wins a national title, Schwimer’s group will be entitled to an additional$ 350, 000 bonus.

Oats was able to view with his gaze that Alabama held on to a three-point lead as the Crimson Tide battled Clemson in the Elite Eight. But at time, he went to the group’s analysis partnerships for more info. They said Bama was “winning the sport by 11 on expected benefit, expected details”, Oats said after the game.
There would be no changing program.
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–NC State Booster Club, NIL Collective Riding Final Four Gravy Train –Athletes ‘ Movement in NIL Case Pits Baker’s Thoughts Against NCAA–WNBA Has Big Plans to Walk Women’s Basketball Momentum