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CLEVELAND — Rocket Arena bid farewell to another successful weekend of NCAA Tournament basketball Sunday night.
Alabama and Michigan State were the two survivors in this year's eight-team field. The two No. 2 seeds advanced to the regional semifinals later this week.
Here are some takeways from Sunday's action in Cleveland.
It came as no surprise that Alabama made it out of Rocket Arena. While not perfect, the Crimson Tide look built to have a deeper run.
Alabama had six players score in double figures in Sunday's 80-66 victory over Saint Mary's. Aden Holloway gave the Tide production off the bench with 12 points. So did Mouhamed Dioubate, who had 10 in a reserve role.
Alabama's depth was too much for the Gaels, who played a seven-man rotation.
"I think our depth, our tempo did get to them," Tide coach Nate Oats said.
Oats said he believes Alabama is better equipped to make a run to this year's Final Four than the team that made it there for the first time last season.
"Yeah, for sure," he said. "We're definitely deeper with more guys available."
Make no mistake, the Tide still are not a finished product going into the Sweet 16 against Brigham Young.
Alabama needed to pull away late to beat 15th-seeded Robert Morris 90-81 in the first round. Despite leading Saint Mary's 42-29 at halftime, it took the Tide a while to put away the Gaels.
"I would say I don't think we've played to the level that we are capable of playing these first two games," Holloway said. "We've been fortunate enough to come out with two wins, but we've got to turn it up this third game to come out with a win in the Sweet 16."
You don't often find yourself down 13 at halftime if you have no turnovers in the first half.
Saint Mary's was the exception. The Gaels shot just 25% from the field in the first half against Alabama.
"We didn't shoot the ball well," Gaels coach Randy Bennett said. "... Some of it has to do with them. They're long and big around the basket."
Alabama's length forced tougher shots for Saint Mary's inside. Being ice cold outside the arc also did not help the Gaels, who missed their first nine 3-point attempts.
"At the end of the day, you have to make some shots," Bennett said. "We didn't shoot the ball well enough to win that game."
Michigan State needed a dominant second half to put away Bryant in the first round.
A big second half against New Mexico was required for the Spartans to advance to the Sweet 16.
Michigan State fell behind by as many as 10 before rallying to within 31-29 at halftime. The Spartans outscored the Lobos 42-32 in the second half.
"The first half of that game, that was as good of a barrage as we've had hit us," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "It wasn't that we were down a lot. It just seemed like we weren't guarding, and they were making shots. Give them credit."
Jaden Akins' 3-pointer with 7:07 left gave Michigan State a 54-51 lead. The Lobos never caught the Spartans again.
"A win is a win," Akins said. "I feel like good teams find a way to win, and that's what we did.
"We started ugly. They got on us in the beginning, but we just tried to stay solid throughout the game."
Michigan State's victory helped Izzo tie fellow Basketball Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim for fourth in NCAA Tournament wins with 58.
"Jim Boeheim is a friend, too, and he's won a lot of games, man," Izzo said. "... Anytime you can accomplish something with your team and your coaches that some of the most respected guys in college basketball have achieved, I guess it's a privilege and an honor."
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski has the most NCAA Tournament wins with 101. Kansas and North Carolina's Roy Williams (79) and North Carolina's Dean Smith (65) are also ahead of Izzo.
Reach Mike at [email protected]
On X: @mpopovichREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 takeaways from NCAA Tournament second-round games in Cleveland
Continue reading...
Alabama and Michigan State were the two survivors in this year's eight-team field. The two No. 2 seeds advanced to the regional semifinals later this week.
Here are some takeways from Sunday's action in Cleveland.
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Depth helps Alabama beat Saint Mary's, advance to Sweet 16
It came as no surprise that Alabama made it out of Rocket Arena. While not perfect, the Crimson Tide look built to have a deeper run.
Alabama had six players score in double figures in Sunday's 80-66 victory over Saint Mary's. Aden Holloway gave the Tide production off the bench with 12 points. So did Mouhamed Dioubate, who had 10 in a reserve role.
Alabama's depth was too much for the Gaels, who played a seven-man rotation.
"I think our depth, our tempo did get to them," Tide coach Nate Oats said.
Oats said he believes Alabama is better equipped to make a run to this year's Final Four than the team that made it there for the first time last season.
"Yeah, for sure," he said. "We're definitely deeper with more guys available."
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Alabama still has room to improve going into regional semifinals
Make no mistake, the Tide still are not a finished product going into the Sweet 16 against Brigham Young.
Alabama needed to pull away late to beat 15th-seeded Robert Morris 90-81 in the first round. Despite leading Saint Mary's 42-29 at halftime, it took the Tide a while to put away the Gaels.
"I would say I don't think we've played to the level that we are capable of playing these first two games," Holloway said. "We've been fortunate enough to come out with two wins, but we've got to turn it up this third game to come out with a win in the Sweet 16."
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Zero first-half turnovers mean zero for Saint Mary's
You don't often find yourself down 13 at halftime if you have no turnovers in the first half.
Saint Mary's was the exception. The Gaels shot just 25% from the field in the first half against Alabama.
"We didn't shoot the ball well," Gaels coach Randy Bennett said. "... Some of it has to do with them. They're long and big around the basket."
Alabama's length forced tougher shots for Saint Mary's inside. Being ice cold outside the arc also did not help the Gaels, who missed their first nine 3-point attempts.
"At the end of the day, you have to make some shots," Bennett said. "We didn't shoot the ball well enough to win that game."
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Michigan State starts 'ugly' before finding way to Sweet 16
Michigan State needed a dominant second half to put away Bryant in the first round.
A big second half against New Mexico was required for the Spartans to advance to the Sweet 16.
Michigan State fell behind by as many as 10 before rallying to within 31-29 at halftime. The Spartans outscored the Lobos 42-32 in the second half.
"The first half of that game, that was as good of a barrage as we've had hit us," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "It wasn't that we were down a lot. It just seemed like we weren't guarding, and they were making shots. Give them credit."
Jaden Akins' 3-pointer with 7:07 left gave Michigan State a 54-51 lead. The Lobos never caught the Spartans again.
"A win is a win," Akins said. "I feel like good teams find a way to win, and that's what we did.
"We started ugly. They got on us in the beginning, but we just tried to stay solid throughout the game."
You must be registered for see images attach
Hall of Famer Tom Izzo ties Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim
Michigan State's victory helped Izzo tie fellow Basketball Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim for fourth in NCAA Tournament wins with 58.
"Jim Boeheim is a friend, too, and he's won a lot of games, man," Izzo said. "... Anytime you can accomplish something with your team and your coaches that some of the most respected guys in college basketball have achieved, I guess it's a privilege and an honor."
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski has the most NCAA Tournament wins with 101. Kansas and North Carolina's Roy Williams (79) and North Carolina's Dean Smith (65) are also ahead of Izzo.
Reach Mike at [email protected]
On X: @mpopovichREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 5 takeaways from NCAA Tournament second-round games in Cleveland
Continue reading...
