While the official numbers are yet to be released, a deal worth over $4 million per year would make Oats one of the ten highest paid coaches in college basketball.
No. 2 Alabama (18-2, 8-0) remains undefeated in conference play with a hard-fought 66-63 win over Mississippi State (12-8, 1-7) in Coleman Coliseum on Wednesday night.
The Crimson Tide is in the midst of a historic season on the court, Alabama is ranked No. 4 in the current AP Poll but a tragedy resulting in death overshadows the success the program has had.
The Crimson Tide is scheduled to take on Vanderbilt on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. CT in Nashville. Oats commented that the entirety of the team that remains will be making the trip to Nashville.
The Crimson Tide snapped the Razorbacks' 17-game home winning streak and kept themselves on top of the SEC standings. The Tide's 4-0 start in the SEC is its best start since 1987 in conference play.
The Crimson Tide will hit the road for its next contest against the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tide takes on the Razorbacks in a clash of SEC West powers on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. CT.
After pulling ahead by double digits in the final minute of the game, the Crimson Tide faced a barrage of scoring from Memphis and finished the game with a 91-88 victory.