Can Alabama upset UConn in the Final Four? Stephen A. Smith and Seth Greenberg linked up on Friday’s episode of First Take on ESPN to discuss that topic.
First off, Greenberg highlighted what the CrimsonTide will have to do if they’re to pull an upset over the reigning champions of the college basketball world, but he simply doesn’t foresee it coming to light.
“Can they or will they? Can they? Sure they can beat UConn. I’d say there’s probably a 20-percent chance,” Greenberg said, regarding Alabama. “Look, if they can impose their identity on the game, if they can gain an advantage. How can they gain an advantage? Playing ahead of the UConn defense. How do they gain an advantage? By making two people play them coming off ball screens and dribble handoffs. How do they gain an advantage? By downsizing and pulling Donovan Clingan away from the basket. There is a pathway for them to win this game.
“Now I believe UConn will have an answer to the questions, but [does Alabama] have a chance? Yeah. If they can impose their identity on the game, then Alabama has a chance to win this game. I don’t think UConn will allow that to happen, but surely they have a chance.”
As for Smith, the ESPN First Take host believes Alabama’s best chance against the Huskies will be their ability from deep, and that’s their only pathway to victory in his eyes.
“That’s their only chance – their only chance. They don’t have any answers for UConn but one and one thing only – this is one of the leading teams shooting from 3-point range,” Smith responded. “They led the nation in scoring with over 90 per game, they were one of only four teams in the NCAA that averaged, that shot as many 3s as they did. And they’re shooting 37-percent from 3-point range this season. That’s the only chance you’ve got. You can’t match up with UConn’s size. You can’t match up with their tenacity, their togetherness, what they do cohesively as an offensive unit, what they do cohesively as a defensive unit. Clingan in the middle, this is a guy that … Illinois was 0-for-19 – zero-for-19 – on shots he contested. This is not a guy you want, you don’t want to go near him if you’re Alabama.
“You’ve got to launch from outside and you’re going to have to make those shots. And not only that, you’re going to have to push the ball up the court, anything to stay away from UConn’s bigs. Push the ball up the floor, beat them up the court, try to get into the open court and create opportunities for yourself that way. Not that it should work. But try that. Other than that, 3-point shooting is really your only hope, Coach.”
Alas, Alabama is going to find out how tough it is to defeat UConn, but the Crimson Tide have been counted out multiple times throughout the NCAA Tournament, and they’ve come out on top each time. We’ll see if another shocking upset is on the horizon for Alabama at the Final Four on Saturday evening.
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