Alabama is an 11.5-point underdog heading into Saturday’s Final Four matchup against reigning national champions UConn.
The Huskies have defeated each team they’ve faced in the NCAA Tournament by at least 13 points dating back to last year’s championship run. Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats discussed what his team’s mindset has been given the fact that UConn is expected to run away with the win.
“We were an underdog. Nobody expected us to be here,” Oats said ahead of Saturday’s matchup. “We weren’t playing our best basketball coming into the regular season. … We had to sell our guys that we can make the run before the tournament. Now that we made the run, get to the Final Four, I want our guys playing loose and free, but I want them thinking they got a chance to win.”
There was no fluke in Alabama making the Final Four, either. The Crimson Tide won their first two games by an average of 17 points before turning around in the second weekend and defeating top-seeded North Carolina in the Sweet 16. They finished the weekend by defeating Clemson in the Elite 8, punching the program’s first-ever ticket to the Final Four.
However, Alabama isn’t complacent with a Final Four run. Oats and his players want more out of this improbable journey.
“If you know me, I’m not going into this game just happy to be here,” Oats continued. “UConn is great. Danny [Hurley] has done a great job. As Danny said, they’re bulletproof. Other teams have been up on them, going on runs. The problem is, they go on a huge run as evidenced by the last game, 30-0 [run vs. Illinois in the Elite 8]. They make these enormous runs.
“We’re going to show our guys success other teams have had. The success that other teams have had, we also do those things very well. We just can’t give them these big runs that everybody gives up. It’s a lot easier said than done.”
Tip-off between the Crimson Tide and Huskies is scheduled for approximately 8:49 p.m. ET and will air live on TBS. The over/under total is set at 160.5 points, as Alabama has been one of the highest scoring teams in the country all season long. However, UConn has also been known to put 90+ points on an opponent from time-to-time.
The winner will battle either Purdue or NC State in the 2024 NCAA Championship game.
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