NEWARK, N.J. — Alabama’s 2024-25 season came to an end one step short of a second consecutive trip to the Final Four. The Crimson Tide fell 85-65 to No. 1 seed Duke in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
The Tide was outmatched by a talented and balanced Blue Devils side on both ends of the floor. Duke’s efficient shotmaking put Alabama at an early deficit that it was never able to overcome. Defensively, Duke shut off Alabama’s outside shotmaking, and the Tide missed too many open looks that it made when it set a record just one game ago. When it went looking for answers in the paint, the Tide only found lengthy Duke defenders and was unable to generate the offense necessary to save its season.
Here are three takeaways from Alabama's season-ending loss to Duke.
Duke’s efficient offense quells Tide
Though Alabama had the experience advantage heading into the game, Duke’s youthful stars got going early. No player for the Blue Devils took over the game, but it was a collective barrage of smart shotmaking that sunk the Tide.
Duke didn’t panic in possession. It carved apart Alabama’s defense with strong ball movement and took full advantage of any miscommunication by the Tide when it tried to switch guarding pick-and-rolls or off-ball cutters.
Freshman guard Kon Knueppel sliced his way through the Alabama defense and hit any open or slightly contested look, especially from midrange. He led the Blue Devils with 19 points on 6 of 14 shooting.
Alabama’s shot coverage wasn’t where it needed to be to pull the upset. The Blue Devils’ 3-level scoring meant it wasn’t overly reliant on one area to get points, but constantly drilled shots and got production from up and down its roster. Star freshman Cooper Flagg didn’t have a legacy game but still scored 16 points. Sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor was lethally efficient from the field, scoring 14 points on 6 of 9 from the Floor.
Duke started the game by making three open 3-point attempts to open up a lead and set the tone for the game. The first came when Nelson opted to go under a screen for Flagg and he hit the shot. The second was from an offensive rebound that left Knueppel open after a scrimble, and the third was off a ball-reversal to Proctor.
Duke had different answers all game long to get open shots, and despite the Tide’s improved defense this season, it was left one step behind too often Saturday. Alabama was unable to completely shut Duke down in any one area offensively, which spelled doom for the Tide’s chances at a victory.
