Birmingham, Ala. — Prior to Alabama took the court docket, two No. 1 seeds had fallen and the 3rd needed to rally from a double-digit deficit.
By way of comparability, the Purple Tide had a drama-free night time.
Jahvon Queenly scored 22 issues, Brandon Miller had 19 and took a lead in the second one part on Saturday as top-seeded Alabama beat Maryland 73-51.
A second-round struggle ensued after a 21-point blowout of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi within the Tide’s match opener.
“I believe our paintings isn’t executed,” Miller mentioned. “We are right here to win a countrywide championship.”
The Purple Tide (31-5) complex to its moment Candy 16 within the closing 3 tournaments and 9th total. Alabama will face fifth-seeded San Diego State within the South Area semifinals on Friday in Louisville, Kentucky.
Previous to the overdue night time sport, Purdue and protecting nationwide champion Kansas had misplaced, and No. 1 seed Houston pulled in the back of Tide rival Auburn by way of 10 issues prior to a 10-point win at Legacy Enviornment.
“After all we watched the ones video games and that used to be loopy,” Quinerly mentioned. “However the trainer (Nate Oates) did not actually deal with the staff.
“Everyone knows that anybody can win in March. We’re simply concerned with getting the task executed.”
Alabama and Miller were given off to a sluggish get started, however the All-The united states freshman and peak NBA prospect completed with a extra conventional efficiency after going goalless in a first-round sport. Miller is fighting a groin damage and has overlooked his first 9 pictures of the match.
Oates mentioned, “It kind of feels that the upper he is going, the decrease he will get”. “He did not have a unmarried pop. He used to be 3 of eleven on 2s. A large number of them had been on the rim. His completing has been lovely just right. He without a doubt wasn’t 100%. He is a difficult child. He is were given some Taking part in via stuff. He does not inform folks he is harm.”
Queenerly had a large sport in Notre Dame’s moment around get started at the one-year anniversary of his left knee damage, which nonetheless restricted him previous this season. He shot 4 of 6 on 3-pointers.
Maryland trainer Kevin Willard introduced the New Jersey local a scholarship to Seton Corridor when Queenly used to be only a ninth-grader.
Charles Bediaco had 10 issues and 10 rebounds. Alabama’s starters left the bench for a couple of mins, with chants of “Candy 16” within the pleasant crowd.
“Taking part in in entrance of my homeland lovers to get an opportunity to visit the Candy 16 has been improbable,” Oates mentioned.
Julian Reese had 14 issues for Maryland (22-13) prior to fouling out. Jamir Younger scored 12 runs.
Reese scored seven fast issues however picked up his moment foul 3 mins into the sport and performed most effective 4 mins within the first part, forcing a snappy 3rd.
“His first foul used to be a nasty. However the second one used to be mystifying, and the 3rd used to be the sport,” Willard mentioned. “You’ll be able to’t name that moment foul in a bodily sport. It used to be a horrible name. It modified the sport.
“I’m going to elaborate up to you wish to have. Do you wish to have me to get in a little bit bother or numerous bother? However the second one name used to be a horrible improper name. A horrible name. It modified our entire sport plan. We took it in Was once gonna do it within, gonna pound it within.
The Tide completed with a 44–32 rebounding benefit.
Alabama, not like the opposite No. 1 seeds, had an more straightforward time in any case.
No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson dissatisfied top-seeded Purdue 63-58 on Friday night time for most effective the second one time. Then No. 8 seed Arkansas beat the Jayhawks 72–71 on Saturday. Houston sooner or later drifted clear of Auburn because the Tide waited for his or her alternative.
The primary part used to be extra to Maryland’s liking – rather then a 28–23 deficit – for a staff that got here in to surrender most effective 63 issues in line with sport.
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Maryland: The 2002 nationwide champion Terps did not make their fifteenth shuttle to the Candy 16 in Willard’s first season. Additionally they misplaced to Alabama in the second one around two years previous underneath former trainer Mark Turgeon. Maryland’s protection used to be sturdy sufficient that it held the lead during the first part, regardless of 9 immediately errors.
Alabama: It used to be the largest win by way of a staff in NCAA match historical past, in step with Stats, which shot not up to 40% total and 30% on 3-pointers. … Alabama’s intensity has been on show up to now. The Tide managed the sport, regardless of no scoring from starters Mark Sears and Noah Clooney or Nick Pringle, the famous person of the outlet sport in opposition to Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.
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Alabama faces a San Diego State staff making its first Candy 16 look since 2004, which used to be additionally the yr of the Tide’s most effective Elite 8 run. The Purple Tide have by no means reached the Ultimate 4.
Oates mentioned, “I do know that San Diego State’s protection is elite.”
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