Alabama star returned to the starting lineup and played a key role in No. 4 Alabama’s 88-84 victory over No. 14 Mississippi State, after being benched for the entire second half in Saturday’s win over LSU. He finished with 17 points and nine assists on 6 of 11 shooting while playing 35 minutes.
Although he committed a season-high seven turnovers, his significant playing time demonstrated how he has regained coach Nate Oats’ trust following Saturday’s surprising benching. Sears had been visibly emotional on the bench during the second half of Alabama’s win over LSU, as Oats sent a message by sitting his leading scorer.
Oats explained the rationale behind the decision during a Wednesday appearance on The Next Round, stating, “Sometimes you need somebody to push you a little bit. I try to read the proverb of the day. It tells you if as a parent, you love your son, you discipline him. I love Mark. Sometimes we need to push him a little bit. I think he understands we’re just trying to push him, make him better, and I think he’s going to be a lot better for it.”
Sears played a crucial role in Alabama’s Final Four run last season, averaging 21.5 points per game with an impressive 43.6% shooting from beyond the arc, earning All-American honors. Heading into Wednesday’s top-15 matchup, Sears was averaging 18.1 points with a 34.8% shooting mark from 3-point range.
While his shooting numbers have decreased this season, Oats clarified during his appearance on The Next Round that it wasn’t offensive struggles that led to Sears’ benching. Instead, the decision was about something beyond just his shooting performance.
Oats praised Sears’ potential, saying, “He can also really guard when he puts his mind to it. He can also lead, which he’s shown this year when he decides that’s what he wants to do. We need his leadership. We need his defensive ability. We need his playmaking ability to be the best team we can be. They all know it, they all love him. They’re trying to make him better. They’re trying to help him out. I think we’ve got a real good group of guys.”
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