Tag: mark sears

Alabama basketball firmly in the mix for Tennessee transfer F Jonas Aidoo

Alabama basketball in the mif for Tennessee transfer F Jonas Aidoo

[autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and the Alabama Crimson Tide are coming off of the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance, however, the team could look quite different next season. This is the new era of NIL and the transfer portal because Alabama replaced a majority of the roster as well as all three assistant coaches heading into the 2023-24 season. With [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag] and [autotag]Grant Nelson[/autotag] in the NBA draft process and several other guys in the transfer portal, some roster spots are opening up.

If Sears and Nelson ultimately decide to leave those are bummers, but it is important to remember that not every departure is a loss. Especially when Oats has proven that he can find great players out of the transfer portal. Oats will certainly add some high-end talent to the roster in the coming weeks and months with one guy on his watch list being Jonas Aidoo of Tennessee.

Aidoo is a 6’11 forward with one more season of eligibility and started all 36 games for the Volunteers. In just shy of 25 minutes a game, Aidoo averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.3 rpg. The one thing the Tide missed ago was an athletic big, and Aidoo is the exact type of guy Oats likes for his system.

As of right now, it sounds like Aidoo is down to Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor and North Carolina.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Alabama’s Final Four run comes to an end with 86-72 loss to UConn

The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball had its Final Four run cut short with a 86-72 loss to the UConn Huskies in the semifinal matchup

The magical run for [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and the Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team came to an end on Saturday night with a tough 86-72 loss to the UConn Huskies in the Final Four.

The final score does not indicate how close the game actually was, but UConn’s talent, depth, and championship pedigree were on full display down the stretch.

Mark Sears led the Tide with 24 points while Grant Nelson played a tough and physical game with 19 points and 15 rebounds.

Alabama will head back to Tuscaloosa with plenty to build on in the future as Coach Oats has the Crimson Tide rolling in the right direction.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on X (Twitter) @Blackwood89.

Alabama basketball releases high-energy Final Four trailer

Not ready for the Final Four of March Madness? Watch this trailer by Alabama basketball as the team prepares to take on UConn and you’ll be ready to take the court alongside them.

The day has come for the college basketball national championship matchup to be decided. As the NC State Wolfpack take on the Purdue Boilermakers and the Alabama Crimson Tide take on the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of the 2024 March Madness Tournament.

Though Alabama is not the favorite in this matchup, with even the staff at Roll Tide Wire being split on score predictions, the team seems ready to roll.

As Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats has said during this week, there’s not much stress on his team. They feel as if they are playing with house money. They are happy to be where they are at but don’t feel the pressure that UConn likely faces to get to the national championship game. That ease of mind could be a real game changer when it comes time to tip-off.

On social media, Alabama basketball shared a trailer for the game against the Huskies and it has fans ready to line up alongside the team to take the court.

Narrated by Alabama alum and ESPN personality Rece Davis, the Crimson Tide is ready to roll into the Final Four with the mentality of ‘Why stop now?’

 

Top images from Alabama basketball’s Final Four prep in Phoenix

See how Alabama has been preparing for the Final Four of March Madness while in Phoenix through this photo gallery.

The Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team will take on the top overall team in the Final Four of March Madness, the UConn Huskies, with a chance to play for a national championship on the line.

Nate Oats and his team, consisting of standout players like [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Nelson[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag], [autotag]Jarin Stevenson[/autotag] and [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag], have been in Phoenix since Tuesday and are still preparing for what is going to be the most important game in Crimson Tide basketball history.

UConn ended up landing in Phoenix in the early hours of Thursday morning after a handful of logistics issues delayed the Huskies’ flight.

The two teams will meet on the court at State Farm Arena at 8:49 p.m. ET.

Top photos from Alabama’s Final Four prep

The irony of where Alabama basketball is preparing for the Final Four

Alabama basketball is gearing up to take on UConn in the Final Four of March Madness in a gym that you wouldn’t believe.

Alabama Crimson Tide basketball won the West Region as the No. 4 seed and is now preparing to take on the top-seeded UConn Huskies in the Final Four. This unprecedented March Madness run by the program is not over yet, as head coach [autotag]Nate Oats[/autotag] and his team look to advance to the national championship game.

Though UConn arrived in Phoenix, the site of the Final Four, very early Thursday morning, the Crimson Tide has been there since Tuesday, preparing for the biggest game in the program’s history.

A series of photos shared to social media by the Alabama men’s basketball account shows the team, and its many stars like [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Nelson[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag], [autotag]Jarin Stevenson[/autotag] and others, at their temporary practice facility.

The irony of it all is that the Crimson Tide is practicing at the home of Grand Canyon University, the team Alabama defeated in the round of 32 of this year’s tournament.

In response, the Grand Canyon men’s basketball account quoted to post and said “Just lock up when you’re done.”

Alabama defeated Grand Canyon in a physical battle that resulted in a low-scoring thriller that ended with a final score of 72-61.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama basketball as the team gets ready to face the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of March Madness.

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Where is Alabama in a reseeded March madness Final Four?

See where Alabama ranks if the Final Four field of March Madness were to be reseeded.

If March Madness were to stop today and the committee reseeded the remaining Final Four teams, where would the Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball team be?

ESPN’s Myron Medcalf argues (subscription required) head coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide would be the No. 4 seed.

It is a bit surprising given the fact that NC State is an 11-seed and Alabama, a No. 4 seed, had to beat the No. 1 seed North Carolina Tarheels to get to this point. Despite one of the most impressive offenses in the country, the Senior Staff Writer believes that Alabama’s liabilities on the defensive end could prevent them from a championship run.

Medcalf says of the first-ever Alabama Final Four team,

“But their scoring capabilities also don’t tell the full story. It’s important to note how quickly Nate Oats’ squad can change a game. Playing without Latrell Wrightsell Jr. this weekend, Alabama turned Saturday’s game with a breathtaking display. In the first 13 minutes of the second half, it scored 30 points and made seven 3-pointers. Now, the Crimson Tide — who have made 41.4% of their 3-point attempts in the NCAA tournament — head to the national semifinals, where they’ll have a shot at the ultimate upset with one of the top scoring units in college basketball.”

The UCONN Huskies have won their four tournament games by an average of 27.75 points and have won 10 straight dating back to last year’s national title team. With the way UConn is currently playing, it is pretty hard to see anyone beating them, but if there is a team to do it, Alabama is built to do so as a high-speed team with heavy doses of three-pointers.

[autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag] has been phenomenal all tournament long, but he will need to have one of his best collegiate games of all time on Saturday if Alabama is going to advance.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

What’s the statistical chance Alabama beats UCONN in the Final Four?

Alabama basketball has made it all the way to the Final Four in March Madness, but what chance does the Crimson Tide have in defeating the Huskies?

Alabama Crimson Tide basketball has made it to the Final Four, the first in the program’s history. This March Madness run has been memorable for head coach Nate Oats and his team, but they now face the tough task of taking on the UCONN Huskies with a trip to the national championship on the line in Phoenix.

Star players for Alabama like [autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Grant Nelson[/autotag], [autotag]Nick Pringle[/autotag] and even [autotag]Jarin Stevenson[/autotag] have played huge roles in getting this team this far in the tournament. UCONN, a No. 1 seed, has been a juggernaut and looks practically unbeatable.

ESPN’s advanced analytics broke down the chance each team has to win this game. In short, it does not look good for the Tide.

The Huskies have a 71.6% chance of advancing past the Final Four, which gives Alabama only a 28.4% chance of keeping its national championship hopes alive.

Alabama recently received some good news from guard Latrell Wrightsell, who has been out since the round of 32 with a head injury. He told reporters that he plans on returning and playing against UCONN.

When will Alabama Basketball and UCONN tip off in the Final Four?

On Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 8:49 p.m. ET, the Crimson Tide and Huskies will get things underway in Phoenix.

The winner of this matchup will go on to face the winner of No. 1 Purdue Boilermakers and No. 4 NC State Wolfpack for a national title.

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Relive the excitement of Alabama’s Elite Eight win with March Madness photo gallery

Loved watching Alabama basketball defeat Clemson in the Elite Eight? Relive it with the top images from the massive March Madness win.

After defeating the Clemson Tigers in the Elite Eight of March Madness, the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team is on to the Final Four to face UCONN. Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, Nick Pringle and others have put together an impressive tournament run so far and it’s not over yet.

In the win over Clemson, Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats’s team remained resilient and didn’t let a scoring drought or a strong run from the Tigers slow them down.

Next up for Alabama is a tough UCONN team that has blown just about every opponent out of the water this tournament. Before looking ahead, however, relive the excitement from the Tide’s win over Clemson that sent the program to its first-ever Final Four appearance!

Photo gallery from Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball’s win over the Clemson Tigers in the Elite Eight of March Madness

Alabama Crimson Tide knocks off Clemson to advance to first ever Final Four

Alabama Basketball’s March Madness run lives on and the program advances to first-ever Final Four appearance!

For the first time in program history, the Alabama Crimson Tide are advancing to the Final Four! It was a back-and-forth game for all 40 minutes, but Alabama’s tenacious defense and Clemson’s inability to make a free throw in the second half was the difference in an 89-82 Alabama victory.

[autotag]Mark Sears[/autotag] and [autotag]Jarin Stevenson[/autotag] both stepped up in massive ways for the Tide as they combined to shoot 15-of-22 from three-point land. Sears also hit six of his final seven threes to get Alabama over the hump. However, the biggest difference in the game was Clemson’s inability to knock down their free throws as they shot 8-of-16 on the day.

The path to the title doesn’t get any easier as they will take on the No. 1 overall seeded UCONN Huskies in the Final Four. The Huskies are the defending national champs and just beat Illinois by 25 in the Elite 8. The game will tip off next Saturday with the time still yet to be announced.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Who is Mark Sears? Meet Alabama’s electric Elite Eight hero

Meet Mark Sears, Alabama’s electric Elite Eight hero.

When Alabama needed a spark in its Elite Eight game against Clemson on Saturday night, it found one in senior guard Mark Sears.

Sears played a huge role in helping Alabama men’s basketball reach its first Final Four in school history after its 89-82 Elite Eight victory over the Tigers.

The Muscle Shoals, Alabama, native played started his career with the Ohio University Bobcats in 2020 and played two seasons there. He then joined the Crimson Tide in 2022 and turned into a key member of its starting lineup.

Why Mark Sears’ mom Lameka mimes shooting free throws with Alabama guard

He’s now one of Alabama’s 2024 March Madness heroes for its first Final Four run. During the team’s Sweet 16 victory over North Carolina, Sears set Alabama’s single-season record for points scored by a player.

While playing Clemson, Sears nailed a staggering seven 3-point shots when his team needed them the most.

One of those came from a mid-court logo in the second half that wowed everyone in attendance for Saturday’s game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. 

He even hit a massive 3-pointer in the game’s final stretch to help the Crimson Tide inch further away from the Tigers for the victory. He scored 23 points in total during the win.

As the Crimson Tide try to keep this hot streak alive against UConn next weekend, the team will need more stellar play from Sears beyond the arc.

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