Alabama is a force to be reckoned with in this year’s NCAA tournament, and this latest stat just proves it.
March Madness has delivered so far this year, captivating audiences with improbable upsets and historic results, and being a top seed in the NCAA Tournament has never felt more precarious. That is, unless you’re Alabama.
The Crimson Tide defeated Maryland, 73-51, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, marking head coach Nate Oats’ second Sweet 16 appearance in the last three years.
After Purdue got toppled by the FDU Knights and Kansas fell to Arkansas, there were whispers around the tournament that the other two No. 1 seeds, Alabama and Houston, could get knocked out as well.
The Maryland Terrapins were able to keep the score close at the half, but Alabama ran away with the game in the second half, putting up 45 points.
The final lopsided score isn’t even the scariest thing about the Bama game. All teams still in the NCAA should take note of the intimidating fact that Alabama only shot 39.7 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three.
And they still won.
Alabama Crimson Tide rolls over Maryland and is the strongest No. 1 seed still standing
That statistic may have more to do with Maryland’s poor offense on Saturday, yet Alabama’s ability to close out games even when the team is having an off-shooting night makes them a truly dangerous threat.
The other No. 1 seed remaining, the Houston Cougars, came back from behind to beat Auburn and showed grit and resilience in their stoic victory. Bama’s squad, however, just feels a tad more composed than the Cougars and is on track to meeting its match in the championship.
Some of the underachieving top seeds in the tournament — Purdue, Kansas, Arizona — have fallen but are not forgotten, and Alabama must continue to navigate a treacherous path littered by hungry underdogs in the South.
One crucial player for the Crimson Tide will be point guard Jahvon Quinerly, who has scored double-digit points in seven of his last eight games and played a significant role in Bama’s victory over Maryland: Quinerly put up 15 points in the second half to squash the Terrapin’s hopes of a late-game comeback and provides both leadership and reliable production in clutch moments.
Quinerly and the rest of his team will take on No. 5 seed San Diego State on Friday in a highly anticipated matchup. Alabama could afford to play poorly against Maryland, but against the sharp-shooting Aztecs, the team will need to find its rhythm much quicker to avoid a ruinous fate.
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