What wins by Alabama, Saint Mary’s mean for Wisconsin in NCAA Tournament
This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.
The Wisconsin Badgers’ potential path through the East Region of the 2025 NCAA Tournament gained clarity on Friday.
In one of the first contests of the day, the No. 2-seed Alabama Crimson Tide tipped off against No. 15-seed Robert Morris. While the Crimson Tide held an advantage in every important statistical category, the Colonials contended the whole way through.
Robert Morris entered intermission down just four points, then even took the lead with roughly seven minutes to spare in the second stanza. Alabama First-Team All-American guard Mark Sears responded with a flurry of buckets and free throws to push his team crew ahead by as many as 12 points, en route to the eventual nine-point win.
Sears, one of the most talented guards in the nation, finished with a team-best 22 points, five rebounds and 10 assists as the initiator on offense. The tightly-contested win could serve as a wake-up call for the rest of the team. All five of Robert Morris' starters scored at least eight points, including 25 from junior guard Amarion Dickerson.
(2) ALABAMA SURVIVES A BIG TEST 😳
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
The Tide take down (15) Robert Morris 90-81 to move on to the second round 🐘 #MarchMadnesspic.twitter.com/2WidpLOwo5
While Alabama's offense looked spectacular from two-point range, it didn't click from deep. The Crimson Tide shot just 28.6% from deep and nearly 76% from inside the arc. The lackluster defense and poor shooting are encouraging signs for a Wisconsin team with one of the nation's more dangerous and composed offenses -- Alabama is the Badgers' most likely Sweet 16 opponent. That, of course, only if Wisconsin defeats BYU on Saturday.
Following the No. 2 vs. No. 15 match, No. 7 Saint Mary's executed a 12-point comeback against No. 10 Vanderbilt in Cleveland, Ohio. Neither team played particularly well on the offense end, but four of the five starters for the Gaels finished with at least 12 points. Saint Mary's also controlled the boards and outrebounded the Commodores by 13.
FINAL | SMC 59 - VAN 56
— Saint Mary's Hoops (@saintmaryshoops) March 21, 2025
See y’all Sunday 🏀🔥#GaelsRisepic.twitter.com/KHQjqO57Lo
While the pair of outcomes don't directly impact the Badgers, one of these teams will await in the Sweet 16 if UW snatches a win over No. 6-seed BYU on Saturday.
Oddsmakers will point to Alabama as the heavy favorite, a sensible decision considering the team's impressive resume. Saint Mary's does not boast the same quality of competition in the West Coast Conference. Alabama's experience will likely push the team over the top.
Still, it is March, a month where anything can happen. If Wisconsin defeats BYU in the round of 32, the team should gear up for an offensive brawl against the Crimson Tide. If Saint Mary's awaits, the game's pace would grind to a halt. Wisconsin has shown an ability to win in both game scripts.
Before we look too far ahead, the Badgers and Cougars are slated to tipoff at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin Basketball NCAA Tournament bracket Alabama Saint Mary’s Wins
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