- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 392,244
- Reaction score
- 43
CLEVELAND — No. 2 seed Alabama basketball was ready for the moment against No. 7 seed Saint Mary's, and now the returning Final Four squad is dancing to Newark, N.J.
Under coach Nate Oats, who joined the program in 2019, the Crimson Tide will be making its third straight Sweet 16 appearance when Alabama (27-8) faces Brigham Young at Prudential Center.
Advancing past the second round for the first time since 2011, the Cougars (26-9) look to pull off an upset that would continue a run in their second NCAA Tournament appearance in a row after the program was passed from now-Kentucky coach Mark Pope to Kevin Young.
MEET MARK SEARS, CADET: Alabama basketball star's adventures in military school
REQUIRED READING: Every player that had a career-high game against Alabama basketball in 2024-25 season
Alabama 95, BYU 83: Averaging 16.3 points per game, junior forward Richie Saunders is the headliner of a sharp-shooting Cougars offense. BYU is making better than 48% of its shots from the floor and 37% from deep. Alabama having a better perimeter defense could pay dividends, but its offense is going to have to respond to BYU with some 3-pointers of its own if struggles on the glass − on both ends of the court − continue.
Judging by practice sessions before Alabama's 90-81 first-round win against Robert Morris, Mo Dioubate looks to be developing his 3-point shot. Center Clifford Omoruyi is, too. With treys slow to splash for All-American Mark Sears in recent games and Grant Nelson working his way back from injury, Crimson Tide players need to make the most of Sears and freshman Labaron Philon with their ability to move the ball and find open 3s. If not, Alabama has to finish its layups, which has been a struggle for a number of teams in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Redshirt candidates Houston Mallette (knees) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Achilles tendon) are presumed to remain on the bench for the Crimson Tide, but the rest of the injured have been cleared at a good time. Making critical contributions for Alabama in the NCAA Tournament, forwards Nelson (knee), who was a game-time decision entering the round of 32, and Derrion Reid (hamstring), who returned against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament, look to be recovering from their respective injuries well.
Nelson had 12 points and eight rebounds in a team-high 28 minutes split with Labaron Philon against Saint Mary's. Reid got some rest and had three points in three minutes.
There are no injuries to report for the Cougars.
Alabama will face BYU in the Sweet 16 at Prudential Center, the home of the NHL New Jersey Devils, in Newark on Thursday. Start time and television information are not yet available.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball vs BYU Sweet 16 score prediction: Picks, injury updates
Continue reading...
Under coach Nate Oats, who joined the program in 2019, the Crimson Tide will be making its third straight Sweet 16 appearance when Alabama (27-8) faces Brigham Young at Prudential Center.
Advancing past the second round for the first time since 2011, the Cougars (26-9) look to pull off an upset that would continue a run in their second NCAA Tournament appearance in a row after the program was passed from now-Kentucky coach Mark Pope to Kevin Young.
MEET MARK SEARS, CADET: Alabama basketball star's adventures in military school
REQUIRED READING: Every player that had a career-high game against Alabama basketball in 2024-25 season
Picks predictions for Alabama basketball vs Brigham Young in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
You must be registered for see images attach
Alabama 95, BYU 83: Averaging 16.3 points per game, junior forward Richie Saunders is the headliner of a sharp-shooting Cougars offense. BYU is making better than 48% of its shots from the floor and 37% from deep. Alabama having a better perimeter defense could pay dividends, but its offense is going to have to respond to BYU with some 3-pointers of its own if struggles on the glass − on both ends of the court − continue.
Judging by practice sessions before Alabama's 90-81 first-round win against Robert Morris, Mo Dioubate looks to be developing his 3-point shot. Center Clifford Omoruyi is, too. With treys slow to splash for All-American Mark Sears in recent games and Grant Nelson working his way back from injury, Crimson Tide players need to make the most of Sears and freshman Labaron Philon with their ability to move the ball and find open 3s. If not, Alabama has to finish its layups, which has been a struggle for a number of teams in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Injury updates for Crimson Tide vs BYU Cougars in March Madness
Redshirt candidates Houston Mallette (knees) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Achilles tendon) are presumed to remain on the bench for the Crimson Tide, but the rest of the injured have been cleared at a good time. Making critical contributions for Alabama in the NCAA Tournament, forwards Nelson (knee), who was a game-time decision entering the round of 32, and Derrion Reid (hamstring), who returned against Kentucky in the SEC Tournament, look to be recovering from their respective injuries well.
Nelson had 12 points and eight rebounds in a team-high 28 minutes split with Labaron Philon against Saint Mary's. Reid got some rest and had three points in three minutes.
There are no injuries to report for the Cougars.
How to watch Alabama vs BYU in Sweet 16: Start time, streaming info, TV channel
Alabama will face BYU in the Sweet 16 at Prudential Center, the home of the NHL New Jersey Devils, in Newark on Thursday. Start time and television information are not yet available.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball vs BYU Sweet 16 score prediction: Picks, injury updates
Continue reading...
