Alabama
Tony's takes: Alabama needs more from Mark Sears but maybe fewer shots
Nate Oats doesn’t mince words when it comes to Mark Sears. The head coach isn’t shy to criticize his point guard, or even bench him when the time calls for it.
Don’t take that the wrong way. Oats loves Sears. He needs him, too. That’s likely why he’s been so vocal about his star’s struggles lately.
If Alabama is going to make another Final Four run this season, Sears will once again need to be the one leading the way. The Crimson Tide has one of the deepest rosters in the nation, but none of its other guards can match the Muscle Shoals native’s ability to take over games.
And generally speaking, as Sears goes, so does the Tide. Just take a look at the numbers.
In Alabama’s four losses this season, Sears is averaging just 13.75 points per game while shooting a combined 14 of 54 (25.9%) from the floor and 5 of 32 (15.6%) from beyond the arc. In the Tide’s 21 wins, he’s averaging 20.3 points while shooting 42.6% from the floor and 39.1% from 3.
Saturday night was one of those bad outings, as Sears struggled during No. 2 Alabama’s 94-85 defeat to No. 1 Auburn on Saturday night. The graduate guard scored a team-high 18 points for the Tide but did so on an inefficient 4 of 17 clip, including a dismal 2 of 11 from deep.
He also recorded just two assists, often choosing to charge recklessly into the lane instead of looking for better options. That led to him going 2 of 6 on layup attempts. It also contributed to a poor shooting night for his teammates, who too often had to settle for contested shots as Alabama went 5 of 26 from beyond the arc.
After alluding to Alabama’s lack of distribution during the opening statement of his post-game press conference, Oats didn’t hold back when asked about Sears’ struggles in the lane.
“Not good,” Oats said. “He shot 4-for-17. Obviously, he’s a competitor. He wants to win at a high level. He’s been able to impact winning for most of his career by scoring the ball. We had him 2-for-6 at the rim, 2-for-11 from 3. Those are typically the efficient shots you get.”
“I thought maybe a couple of them – I thought he got fouled on one, but refs aren’t gonna be perfect, and we sure weren’t perfect as coaches or players. There’s probably some missed reads in there, I’ve got to go back and look at them. It wasn’t one of his better shooting nights.”
Oats isn’t worried about shooting percentages. The former math teacher knows the law of averages will even out and Sears will rediscover his hot hand sooner than later. Alabama’s problem is getting its star to adjust when he’s having an off night.
As Oats said, no one is perfect. Saturday won’t be the last time Sears and the Tide go cold from the floor this season. If Alabama wants to take home its first national title in a couple of months, chances are it will need to withstand a night like that during the six games it will take to cut down the nets in San Antonio.
When that inevitably happens, Oats and Alabama are going to need Sears to change his style.
“We’ve gotta be able to play hard even when shots aren’t going well,” Oats said. “I think that’s a sign of high-character guys. How hard do you play when shots aren’t dropping? Can you keep moving the ball? Maybe sometimes he needs to get 10 assists.”
Along with his 3-point touch, Sears’ ability to bowl past defenders while drawing fouls in the lane makes him deadly with the ball in his hand. But lately the 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard has been a bit too reliant on whistles going his way.
Sears’ tendency to run down blind alleys resulted in him turning the ball over a combined 19 times during a three-game stretch against Mississippi State, Georgia and Arkansas. He’s handled the ball better in his last two outings, committing three turnovers against Texas and just two during Saturday’s loss to Auburn.
However, as it did this past fall, Alabama needs its quarterback to do a better job of scanning his options before dropping his head and charging forward. And Sears has already proven he can be a capable pocket passer.
Sears leads Alabama and ranks third in the SEC averaging 4.9 assists per game. He’s also shown that his distribution skills can overcome poor shooting nights.
Sears tallied a career-high 11 assists against Oklahoma on a night where he shot just 1 of 6 from beyond the arc. He had seven assists at North Carolina when he shot 2 of 7 from deep and nine assists at Kentucky when he was 4 of 12 from 3. Alabama won each of those games, averaging 101 points across them.
Following its loss to Auburn, Alabama (20-4, 10-2) will finish out its regular-season schedule against six straight ranked opponents. Four of those sit inside Ken Pomeroy’s top 15 in terms of defensive efficiency, including to-ranked Tennessee (87.3 points allowed per 100 possessions), No. 6 Texas A&M (91.9), No. 9 Florida (93.5) and No. 14 Auburn (94.4.)
Alabama will need Sears to put on his cape if it wants to make it through that gauntlet run, but that might not always involve the Tide’s hero putting the ball in the net himself.
In the spirit of sharing, this is a good time to mention the Sunday Fun Days from our friends at Sessions Cocktails. Alabama fans might not be in the brightest spirits following Saturday’s IBOB loss, but that’s nothing an oversized espresso martini can’t fix.
If you’re still in Tuscaloosa and need a pick-me-up, grab a few friends and take on Session’s Espresso Mar-titan. The giant cocktail is just like a regular espresso martini but made for more people. Pass one around the table, but make sure to drown your sorrows responsibly.
Cheers!
(Commercial break: My drink of the week section is now sponsored by my friends at Session Cocktails in Tuscaloosa. Session has been a mainstay in Tuscaloosa’s cocktail scene since 2019 and offers some of the tastiest drinks in town. Stop by and tell them I said hi!)
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Alabama
Alabama NAACP Releases 2026 Selma Jubilee Weekend Schedule
The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP has announced its official schedule for the 2026 NAACP-sponsored Selma Jubilee Bridge Crossing Weekend, set for March 6–8 in Montgomery and Selma.
Held under the theme “A Time for Standing,” the annual commemoration honors the Foot Soldiers of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches and recognizes the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and Rev. Jesse Jackson for their roles in advancing civil rights and voting access.
The three-day event will bring together national, state and local leaders, along with youth and college chapters, faith partners and community members for activities focused on reflection, education and civic engagement.
Scheduled events include a civic discussion titled “The New Civic Path” on March 6 at the Montgomery Interpretive Center at Alabama State University, followed by a Jubilee Gala that evening at Embassy Suites in Montgomery. On March 7, the Birmingham Metro Branch will host a bus trip to Selma, while a statewide civic engagement training will take place in Montgomery.
SEE ALSO: Bridge Crossing Jubilee to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson’s legacy in Selma
SEE ALSO: 16th Street Baptist Church: Keeping a Legacy Alive 63 Years Later
On March 8, participants will take part in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Parade, voter activation efforts, worship services at Brown Chapel AME Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church, and the traditional bridge crossing at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Organizers say the weekend will emphasize continued civic participation and community engagement across Alabama.
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March 6 — Alabama NAACP Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Gala 5:30PM Embassy Suites by Hilton, 300 Tallapoosa St, Montgomery, AL 36104
March 7 — NAACP Birmingham Metro Branch Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Bus Trip 8AM–5PM Broad Street and Water Avenue in Selma Alabama
March 7 — Alabama State NAACP Statewide Civic Engagement Training 8–4:15PM Homewood Suites, 7800 EastChase Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36117
March 8 — Alabama State NAACP in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Parade 8AM–10AM Begins at 1722 Broad St and concludes at the National Voting Rights Museum
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Statewide Bridge Crossing Jubilee Bus Trip 8AM–5PM Alabama State University, Untenese and Mobile Branch and University of Alabama, Oakwood University, Broad Street and Water Avenue, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Participation in Worship Services 10AM–2PM Brown Chapel AME Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Youth and College Civic Engagement Voter Activation 8AM–2PM Broad Street and Water Ave, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Statewide Bridge Crossing 11:15PM – Line up Alabama NAACP Tent on Waters Ave or at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma
Alabama
3 Alabama players who helped their draft stock at 2026 NFL combine
Each player had a pivotal role on the Crimson Tide in 2025.
Alabama had a multitude of former players who performed at an elite level at the NFL combine this past weekend.
Former Alabama star quarterback Ty Simpson was among those who put his talents on full display in Indianapolis, as Simpson continues to emerge as a top quarterback prospect available in April’s draft.
Numerous Crimson Tide stars on both sides of the football were able to have an excellent showing at the combine as well, with each playmaker a vital component to the Tide’s success in 2025.
Here are three Alabama players who helped their draft stock rise at the NFL combine.
Ty Simpson, Quarterback
Simpson is widely regarded as the best quarterback prospect available outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. The talented redshirt junior put on an absolute show at the NFL combine, as Simpson delivered multiple perfect throws and put his talents on full display throughout Saturday’s events.
The former Alabama star is a candidate to potentially shine day one in his campaign in the NFL, as Simpson’s draft stock continues to rise prior to April.
Jam Miller, Running Back
Miller is an extremely fast and athletic running back, despite struggling in the Tide’s backfield last season. The star running back recorded an impressive 4.43u 40-yard dash time, as Miller could very easily shine in the NFL next season with consistent playing time.
Miller was nothing short of elite throughout his entire performance at the combine in Indianapolis, as the former Tide running back continues to rise in a multitude of draft rankings around the football world.
Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle
Proctor played a crucial role on Alabama’s offensive line last season. The star lineman reportedly slimmed down prior to the NFL combine, as Proctor displayed elite speed and athleticism throughout Sunday’s combine in Indianapolis.
Proctor is widely expected to be a mid-to-late first round selection in April, as the talented lineman’s efforts during the combine could quickly begin to work in Proctor’s favor during next month’s draft.
The 2026 NFL draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania starting on April 23, as each Crimson Tide star will look to shine throughout their rookie campaign in the NFL.
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Alabama
Husband, 19, fatally shot wife, 24, himself at Alabama hospital moments after welcoming their first child
A husband fatally shot his wife before turning the gun on himself at an Alabama hospital just moments after they welcomed their first child on Sunday.
Kynath Terry Jr., 19, gunned down 24-year-old Precious Johnson before fatally shooting himself inside the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, WTVM 13 reported.
Johnson delivered a healthy baby just before she was murdered. It’s not immediately clear if the baby was present during the shooting, but police said that Terry and Johnson were the only ones injured.
Terry’s mother told the outlet that the couple were having some marital issues leading up to Johnson’s due date, but nothing that made her fear her son would become violent.
She told the outlet that Terry completed Army National Guard training before tying the knot with Johnson.
She noted that Johnson didn’t want Terry’s side of the family at the hospital for her child’s birth, but it’s unclear if anyone from the mother-to-be’s own family was there.
The hospital was plunged into a lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” while police investigated reports of a shooting. It wasn’t lifted until hours later when they determined there was “no active threat to patients, team members or the public,” the outlet reported.
The Homewood Police Department described the tragedy as “an apparent murder-suicide and is domestic in nature.”
Danne Howard, the president of the Alabama Hospital Association, told the outlet that the chilling attack “was an isolated incident” unlike anything she’d encountered during her three decades working in the state.
Howard said, in the wake of the tragedy, the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital would undergo a security overhaul implementing “lessons learned” from a mandated after-action report.
Just three months ago, in a town six miles outside of Homewood, a beloved sports reporter was fatally shot by her husband before taking his own life. Their 3-year-old son, who was unharmed, led his grandfather to his parents’ bodies.
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