GLENDALE, Ariz. — What could help Alabama secure a victory over the UConn Huskies in the NCAA Final Four? According to the FOX54 Sports Team, it's a lot of points at a high pace.
It's the first trip to the NCAA Basketball Final Four for Alabama's men's basketball team. You can watch the Crimson Tide take on UConn tonight night at 7:49 CST on TBS, TNT and truTV, according to NCAA.com.
The games will also be streamed on the NCAA March Madness Live app and on Max's B/R Sports Add-On subscription.
The other teams in the Final Four are all repeating their trips. NC State has had three past appearances in 1950, 1974, and 1983, winning the tournament in 1974 and 1983. Purdue went in 1969 and 1980 and places second in the tournament in 1969.
UConn has previously made six trips to the Final Four in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2014, and 2023. They won the tournament in 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014, and 2023.
While Alabama has made plenty of trips to the Sweet Sixteen and one previous trip to the Elite Eight, this is the first time in program history they've made it all the way to the final four. Coach Nate Oats is leaning into the team's underdog role, saying, "No one expected us to be here."
Grant Nelson and Mark Sear have been two standout players, but they're not alone. AP Basketball Writer John Marshall has this to say about the Alabama team:
"Alabama point guard Mark Sears has fit right in since transferring from Ohio two years ago, becoming the Tide's go-to player. The 6-1 senior worked on his shot during the offseason and has seen impressive results, shooting a career-best 43% from 3 while averaging 21.5 points and 4.0 assists per game.
"Aaron Estrada averages 13.3 points per game, Rylan Griffen 11.3 and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. 9.0 on a team the led the nation in scoring. Backup guard Jarin Stevenson gave the Crimson Tide a huge lift in the Elite Eight against Clemson, hitting five 3-pointers while scoring 19 points."