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 means of comparability, the Pink 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 completed,” Miller mentioned. “We are right here to win a countrywide championship.”
The Pink Tide (31-5) complicated to its moment Candy 16 within the remaining 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 past due night time recreation, 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 earlier than 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 cope with the workforce.
“Everyone knows that any one can win in March. We’re simply involved in getting the activity completed.”
Alabama and Miller were given off to a gradual get started, however the All-The usa freshman and height NBA prospect completed with a extra standard efficiency after going goalless in a first-round recreation. Miller is scuffling with a groin damage and has neglected his first 9 photographs of the match.
Oates mentioned, “It sort 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. Numerous them had been on the rim. His completing has been beautiful excellent. He certainly wasn’t 100%. He is a tricky child. He is were given some Enjoying via stuff. He does not inform other people he is harm.”
Queenerly had a large recreation 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.
“Enjoying in entrance of my homeland enthusiasts to get a possibility to visit the Candy 16 has been unbelievable,” Oates mentioned.
Julian Reese had 14 issues for Maryland (22-13) earlier than 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 best 4 mins within the first part, forcing a snappy 3rd.
“His first foul used to be a bad. 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 recreation. It used to be a horrible name. It modified the sport.
“I will elaborate up to you need. Do you need me to get in slightly bother or numerous bother? However the second one name used to be a horrible incorrect name. A horrible name. It modified our complete recreation plan. We took it in Was once gonna do it inside of, gonna pound it inside of.
The Tide completed with a 44–32 rebounding benefit.
Alabama, not like the opposite No. 1 seeds, had an more uncomplicated time in any case.
No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson disenchanted top-seeded Purdue 63-58 on Friday night time for best the second one time. Then No. 8 seed Arkansas beat the Jayhawks 72–71 on Saturday. Houston in the end 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 workforce that got here in to surrender best 63 issues in line with recreation.
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Maryland: The 2002 nationwide champion Terps did not make their fifteenth commute 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, in spite of 9 directly errors.
Alabama: It used to be the most important win by way of a workforce in NCAA match historical past, in line 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, in spite of no scoring from starters Mark Sears and Noah Clooney or Nick Pringle, the superstar of the hole recreation towards Texas A&M–Corpus Christi.
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Alabama faces a San Diego State workforce making its first Candy 16 look since 2004, which used to be additionally the yr of the Tide’s best Elite 8 run. The Pink 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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