These 5 teams could bust Alabama basketball's bracket, halt NCAA Tournament title run
Alabama basketball has shown tendencies of underestimating opponents that don't have blue blood-billings.
What Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats would call a lack of maturity saw North Dakota nearly run Alabama (25-8) out of "The Betty" with 40 points by the now-infamous Treysen Eaglestaff when the visiting team was favored by 25 points before tipoff.
Saturday's second-half collapse against Florida in SEC Tournament semifinals has Oats second-guessing how far his guys can make it beyond their first round game against Robert Morris.
In the East Region, No. 2 seed Alabama is joined by Duke, Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon, BYU, Saint Mary's, Mississippi State, Baylor, Vanderbilt, VCU, Liberty, Akron and Montana, with the No. 15 seed Colonials up first.
With a relatively forgiving path to the Elite Eight compared to others around the country, here are the top candidates out to bust Alabama's bracket.
Why 11-seed VCU could upset Alabama basketball
Ranking among the Top 50 in the nation for winning extra possessions, Ryan Odom's Rams are going to force turnovers. They also make the most out of second-chance opportunities around the rim. For 36.5% of shots they miss, the Rams get the offensive rebound, and they can be impactful from deep, too.
VCU has the green light from downtown, and that alongside a defense ranked No. 23 in adjusted efficiency per KenPom could be a problem for Alabama in the Sweet 16.
Why 5-seed Oregon could upset Alabama basketball
Simply put, because Oregon did it already. Keeshawn Barthelemy scored a game-high 22 points, and Supreme Cook dropped 11 points off the bench, taking the Crimson Tide to the wire as the Ducks won the Players Era Festival championship.
Keep in mind, Alabama lost Latrell Wrightsell Jr. to a blown Achilles tendon that game, and the injury report has only grown since. The Crimson Tide's non-starters have to step up to bounce Oregon in the Elite Eight. Of course, that'll take Oregon defeating the winner of Arizona-Akron in the second-round, as well as No. 1 seed Duke, No. 8 seed Mississippi State or No. 9 seed Baylor in the Sweet 16.
Why 8-seed Mississippi State could upset Alabama basketball
Alabama proved it could do what hadn't been done in program history against Kentucky in SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Lacking defense, and a healthy roster, the 'Cats were a lucky draw in comparison to the Bulldogs, who UA could meet for a third time in the Elite Eight.
Josh Hubbard is a problem. Against Alabama on Jan. 29, he went off for a career-best 38 points for the most in program history versus a ranked opponent. He hung 21 points in Coleman Coliseum in February.
Why 13-seed Akron could upset Alabama basketball
Akron's fast-paced offense, ranked 16th in adjusted tempo and top 50 in two- and 3-point efficiency, makes a tough first-round matchup for Arizona, which struggled late in the season.
Alabama wouldn't meet the Zips until the Elite Eight, but if Akron's still in at that point, the Mid-American Conference regular season and tournament champions' momentum could be detrimental to a Crimson Tide team that might breeze through the first couple of rounds. Plus, John Groce's crew would likely have had to have beaten No. 5 seed Oregon in the second-round.
Why 4-seed Arizona could upset Alabama basketball
In the Big 12 Conference, Arizona picked up Quad 1 wins against Arizona State, Cincinnati, Kansas (No. 7 seed − West), Texas Tech (No. 3 seed − West) and West Virginia throughout the regular season, preparing them for the challenges of March Madness. Akron has sharp-shooters but lacks size that Arizona's high-scoring offense brings shooting 47.5% from the floor for an average 81.7 points per game. Defending the perimeter should see the Wildcats, who are dominant on the boards with an average 38.2 rebounds per game, advance to the second-round.
The problem for Alabama is that Arizona faced similar struggles on the back nine of the regular season, finishing with a 3-5 record in its last eight. Should the two meet, Tommy Lloyd's squad is paired with an Alabama team that'll be equally hungry to prove it's still a title contender.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: These 5 teams could bust Alabama basketball's bracket, halt NCAA Tournament title run
-
These 5 teams could bust Auburn basketball's bracket, halt NCAA Tournament title run
Auburn basketball is the top team in this year's NCAA Tournament, but there are a few teams on its side of the bracket who reek of upset potential.Yahoo Sports - 21h -
Alabama women’s basketball March Madness predictions: Where Crimson Tide could land in NCAA bracket
Where Alabama women’s basketball’s March Madness predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Alabama basketball’s March Madness opponent is Green Bay to open NCAA Tournament bracket
It’s Alabama vs. Green Bay in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament women’s bracket. Here’s what to know about the first-round game.Yahoo Sports - 18h -
Where Alabama basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions
Where Alabama basketball March Madness bracketology and predictions stand on Selection Sunday, when 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Breaking down the UConn women’s basketball team’s bracket, Final Four path in 2025 NCAA Tournament
STORRS — After cruising to a fifth consecutive Big East Tournament title, UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma would rather have turned around right away to start playing the NCAA ...Yahoo Sports - 12h -
NCAA Tournament: Upset picks, players to watch and title contenders in the men's bracket
With the NCAA men’s basketball tournament revealing its 68-team bracket on Sunday, NBC News is here to break down the teams and players to know, from the top seeds to the potential Cinderella stories.NBC News - 21h -
March Madness' biggest upsets and deepest runs in the NCAA tournament by Cinderella teams
What it means to be one of bracket-busting underdogs that annually emerge on the hardcourt.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Alabama's NCAA Tournament is "Final Four or bust" for Nate Oats
Nate Oats is about to embark on his eighth go-around of coaching a team in the NCAA Tournament. 10 seasons ago, Oats coached Buffalo to the Big Dance as a No. 14 seed. “Shoot, I was a high school ...Yahoo Sports - 13h -
5 takeaways from LSU women's basketball's draw in the 2025 NCAA Tournament bracket
LSU women's basketball will be a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Here are five takeaways from the Tigers' bracket reveal.Yahoo Sports - 19h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Twins’ Royce Lewis will miss start of season after hurting his hamstring
Lewis is coming off a 2024 season that saw him appear in just 82 games due to quadriceps and adductor issues.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Texans to pick up Derek Stingley's Jr.'s fifth-year option ahead of extension
The Houston Texans will have Derek Stingley Jr. under contract through 2029 after agreeing to pick up one final year on his rookie deal.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
MLB hyped up a video game-like replay view from the Tokyo Dome and fans justifiably hated it
The on-field replay did not go over how MLB expected.Yahoo Sports - 14h -
The Players Championship 2025 prize money: Full payout from the $25 million purse
Here's how the $25 million purse will be paid out this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Auburn basketball’s first round opponent revealed ahead of 2025 NCAA Tournament
Auburn basketball will face either Alabama State or St. Francis in March Madness to open its 2025 NCAA Tournament men’s bracket.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More in Sports
-
NCAA Tournament 2025 bracket picks, upsets, best Cinderella teams: Model simulates March Madness 10,000 times
SportsLine's college basketball model has called 24 first-round NCAA Tournament upsets by double-digit seedsCBS Sports - 1h -
MLB's villains or its gold standard? How the Los Angeles Dodgers got here
Love them or loathe them, the defending champs built a new evil empire with a series of monumental moves.ESPN - 1h -
Chelsea condemn racist abuse towards Fofana
Chelsea have strongly condemned the racist abuse faced by defender Wesley Fofana in the aftermath of their loss to Arsenal on Sunday.ESPN - 1h -
Rabiot lashes out at PSG prez: 'Can't buy class'
Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot took aim at Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi following his side's 3-1 loss to the Ligue 1 leaders on Sunday, writing on social media that "you ...ESPN - 1h -
Sargent looks to carry 'flow state' over to USMNT
U.S. striker Josh Sargent described his current run of form with club side Norwich City as a "flow state where everything is just happening for you," but admitted his lack of production at ...ESPN - 1h