BOL Basketball Show: Alabama advances to third straight Sweet 16
The Alabama men’s basketball team is one of 16 still competing for a national championship.
The Crimson Tide, the No. 2 seed in the East Region, topped 15-seed Robert Morris and 7-seed Saint Mary’s this past weekend in Cleveland to advance to the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. It marks the third straight Sweet 16 for Alabama and fourth in the last five years.
In its first-round contest, the Colonials gave the Crimson Tide all it could handle, out-rebounding Alabama, 39-37. But Grant Nelson, who was dealing with a knee injury and spent most of the game watching from the bench, checked in during the second half and provided a spark for the Tide to outlast Robert Morris, 90-81, and move on to Sunday’s Round of 32.
Alabama was able to bounce back on the glass against a tough Saint Mary’s team, finishing with five more rebounds. Six different Tide players scored in double figures, as the No. 2 seed flexed its depth in the second round to beat the Gaels, 80-66. It was the first time Saint Mary’s, known for its defense, had given up 80 or more points in more than 100 outings.
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With a couple of wins at Rocket Arena, Alabama advanced to the Sweet 16, where it will face 6-seed BYU on Thursday, March 27, in Newark, New Jersey. The winner will play either Duke or Arizona in the Elite Eight on Saturday. The Tide is already in the Garden State, choosing to fly from Cleveland to Newark rather than make a quick stop back in Tuscaloosa.
Before Alabama and BYU square off at Prudential Center, BamaOnLine staff members Charlie Potter, Tim Watts and Blake Byler share their thoughts on the Tide and March Madness.
The Alabama-related topics discussed by the guys include:
– Thoughts on Robert Morris win
– Thoughts on Saint Mary’s win
– Biggest surprise from the first weekend?
– Looking ahead to BYU, Sweet 16
– Has March Madness lived up to expectations?
– A transfer portal player of interest
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