After fizzling out to end the regular season and no showing in Nashville, the 4th-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (22-11, 13-5 SEC; NET: 9; Kenpom: 15) pulled a complete 180 and delivered a classic Nate Oats NCAA Tournament opening weekend beatdown of the 13th-seeded College of Charleston Cougars in the First Round on Friday night. And what a sight it was to behold, as the Tide rediscovered its elite potency on the offensive end of the court, shooting 13/23 from three, getting to the line for 37 free throw attempts, and scoring 109 points on 1.31 Points Per Possession. Mark Sears was incredible, dropping 30 points on only 13 shots and adding five assists to boot.
Alabama’s blowout win was in stark contrast to the rest of the state and the SEC, as UAB and Auburn have already left Spokane to return home for the off-season. Instead, the Tide will be going for its third trip to the second weekend of the Big Dance in just four years, a feat only Wimp Sanderson has accomplished in Tuscaloosa. In order to do that though, the guys will have to go through the 12th-seeded Grand Canyon Antelopes (30-4, 17-3 WAC; NET: 50; Kenpom: 50). Fourth year head coach Bryce Drew, formerly of Vanderbilt, has this program thriving in only its 11th season of existence.
The ‘Lopes got to the Second Round after winning their first ever NCAA Tournament game against the St Mary’s Gaels Friday night in front of a very pro-GCU crowd in Spokane. The 75-66 win was powered by Grand Canyon’s superior athleticism and penchant to draw fouls and get to the
