Video above: Nate Oats speaks before the team leaves for Arizona to play in the Final Four. An Alabama basketball fan can get crazy sometimes. but this? This is crazy. After back-to-back appearances in the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament, head coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide clawed their way to the Final Four, putting them on a collision course with the No. 1 team. No. 1 team in the nation and defending champion: University of Connecticut Huskies. With an Elite Eight basketball net wrapped around his neck, Oats described the team's success this season as “unbelievable” and “a little surreal.” But now, with the celebration after and some final practices in the books, the Crimson Tide are dialed in and ready to take on not only the toughest challenge of the tournament, but perhaps the toughest challenge the program has ever faced. Here's everything you need to know about Alabama's March Madness matchup with UConn. When will the match be held? The game is scheduled for Saturday at 7:49 PM CST. Where will the match be held? The game will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the Cardinals. While the tide reached the Grand Canyon State without issue on Tuesday, mechanical issues forced UConn to pick up a red eye. After a long delay, the Huskies touched down in Phoenix at 3:15 a.m. Thursday. How can I watch the match? You can watch the game on TBS or listen to it on the Crimson Tide Sports Network. Plus, you can follow live updates on our website and from WVTM 13 sports reporter Julian Mitchell on X. How did Alabama get here? Oats brought in four transfers after losing four starters this offseason, including second overall NBA draft pick Brandon Miller. One of those, lanky 6-11 forward Grant Nelson of North Dakota State, played a big role in the program's run to its first Final Four, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a Sweet 16 win over the region's No. 1 seed, North Carolina. Nelson converted the go-ahead three-point play with 38 seconds remaining to push the Crimson Tide beyond the Sweet 16, only the second time in school history. The Tide made only one other appearance in the Elite 8 in 2004 under coach Mark Gottfried, losing to UConn. Days after beating the Tarheels, Mark Sears buried Clemson under a torrent of 3-pointers in a career-high Elite 8 victory. Best matches. “I live for those moments. That's what March Madness is all about,” Sears said. “When you're a kid, you want to be in those moments. It's as if my dream came true today. “My dream has definitely come true today.” What about UConn? With five titles under their belt, the Huskies are no strangers to the Final Four. A year after reaching their fifth national championship — winning their six NCAA Tournament games by an average of nearly 20 points — the Huskies followed up blowouts in the early rounds of the tournament with their ninth straight double-digit victory in March Madness, demolishing San Diego. State.The defending national champions scored 30 straight points to return to the Final Four on Saturday night, defeating Illinois 77-52 — a March Madness record and the 10th straight double-digit win for the top-seeded Huskies. What are the odds?The moneyline for this March Madness matchup is Alabama (+500), UConn (-800), according to ESPN. What will happen next? The winner of this matchup will go on to play either the NC State Wolfpack or the Purdue Boilermakers for the NCAA title. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Alabama Crimson Tide fans excited for historic run after team secures Final Four appearance Stay up to date on the latest sports stories with the WVTM 13 app. Download it here.
Video above: Nate Oats speaks before the team leaves for Arizona to play in the Final Four
Being an Alabama basketball fan can feel crazy sometimes.
but this? This is madness.
After back-to-back appearances in the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament, head coach Nate Oats and the Crimson Tide clawed their way to the Final Four, putting them on a collision course with the No. 1 team in the country and the defending tournament champions: the University of Connecticut Huskies.
With an Elite Eight basketball net wrapped around his neck, Oates described the team's success this season as “unbelievable” and “a little surreal.”
But now, with the celebration over and some final practices in the books, the Crimson Tide is dialed in and ready to take on not only the toughest challenge of the tournament, but perhaps the toughest challenge the program has ever faced.
Here's everything you need to know about Alabama's March Madness matchup with UConn.
When does the game begin?
The tip is set for Saturday at 7:49 PM CST.
Where is the game?
The game will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, home of the Cardinals.
While the Tide reached the Grand Canyon State without issues on Tuesday, mechanical issues forced UConn to pick up a red eye. After a long delay, the Huskies landed in Phoenix at 3:15 a.m. Thursday.
How can I watch the match?
You can watch the game on TBS or tune in on Crimson Tide Sports Network.
In addition, you can follow live updates on our website and from WVTM 13 sports reporter Julian Mitchell is on X.
How did Alabama get here?
Oats made four transfers after losing four starters this offseason, including selecting Brandon Miller No. 2 overall in the NBA draft. One of those, lanky 6-11 forward Grant Nelson of North Dakota State, played a big role in the program's run to its first Final Four, scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a Sweet 16 win over the region's No. 1 seed, North Carolina. .
Nelson converted the go-ahead three-point play with 38 seconds remaining to push the Crimson Tide past the Sweet 16, only the second time in school history. The Tide's only other Elite 8 appearance was in 2004 under coach Mark Gottfried, losing to UConn.
Days after beating the Tarheels, Mark Sears buried Clemson under a torrent of 3-pointers in an Elite 8 win that ranks among the best of his career.
“I live for those moments. That's what March Madness is all about,” Sears said. “When you're a kid, you want to be in those moments. It's as if my dream came true today. “My dream has definitely come true today.”
What about the Yukon?
With five titles under their belt, the Huskies are no strangers to the Final Four.
After a year of sailing to them Fifth national championship – They won their six NCAA Tournament games by an average of nearly 20 points – The Huskies followed up the blowout in the early rounds of the tournament with their ninth straight double-digit victory in March Madness, destroying San Diego State.
Defending national champions He scored 30 consecutive points They clawed their way back to the Final Four on Saturday night, defeating Illinois 77-52 — a March Madness record and the 10th straight double-digit win for the top-seeded Huskies.
What are the odds?
The money line for this March Madness matchup is Alabama (+500), UConn (-800), according to ESPN.
what happened after that?
The winner of this matchup will go on to play for either the NC State Wolfpack or the Purdue Boilermakers for the NCAA title.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Alabama Crimson Tide fans are excited about the historic run after the team secured a Final Four appearance
Stay up to date with the latest sports stories with the WVTM 13 app. Download it here.
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