Alabama coach Nate Oats sent a message with the benching of star Mark Sears. Here's what Oats said of his decision to bench Sears vs. LSU:

Nate Oats still hasn't locked in Alabama basketball's starting five for Mississippi State. Will Mark Sears be in it after getting benched against LSU?

Let's fire up a Tuesday edition of "The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral" with Mason Woods as we put the weekend Mark Sears situation to bed, discuss the opening day of the Senior Bowl and the best college football games of the season.

Chris Youngblood had a season-high 23 points, including two free throws with 10.9 seconds remaining, to lead No. 4 Alabama to an 88-84 win over No. 14 Mississippi State.

Will Alabama basketball's Mark Sears bounce back at Mississippi State? Updates and highlights live from the Hump.

Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats praised Mark Sears' response after he was benched against LSU, but did not say whether he would start at Mississippi State.

The best images of Chris Youngblood, Mark Sears, Grant Nelson and other Crimson Tide stars who shined in Alabama's 88-84 win over Mississippi State.

Alabama basketball star Mark Sears is not a lock to start against Mississippi State in a top-15 battle on the hardwood. Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats said he had not decided on his starting lineup ...

However, there are less difficult things to do than play a ranked Chris Jans team on the road in a midweek contest. Alabama head coach Nate Oats is aware of this, and he expects the No. 4 Crimson Tide (17-3,

Nate Oats and Mark Sears cleared the air after practice Tuesday in the aftermath of Sears' benching last Saturday against LSU.

No. 4 Alabama men's basketball took down No. 14 Mississippi State 88-84 in a thriller on the road. Unlike most of Alabama's wins, this one was close throughout as the Bulldogs never allowed the Crimson Tide to truly pull away.