Alabama Intense Clash with No. 8 Creighton: Alabama came close but couldn’t clinch victory, facing the No. 8 Creighton Bluejays in a nail-biter that concluded 85-82 in Creighton’s favor.
Echoing the earlier bout against No. 3 Purdue, the Crimson Tide once again narrowly missed triumph, demonstrating their ability to compete at the highest level while falling short in crucial moments.
Reflecting on the game, Coach Nate Oats highlighted the team’s close contests with top-tier opponents but lamented their inability to make decisive plays, citing defensive deficiencies as a key issue.
Anticipation surrounded the matchup’s three-point shooting prowess, but the game didn’t unfold as expected. Alabama struggled from beyond the arc, contrasting their earlier performance against Purdue, while Creighton attempted fewer 3-pointers, yet maintained efficiency.
The Crimson Tide heavily focused on inside scoring, dominating the paint, particularly capitalizing on alley-oop plays, notably benefiting forward Nick Pringle, though Creighton faced challenges after center Ryan Kalkbrenner‘s first-half injury.
Despite a tied first half, Kalkbrenner’s return in the second half significantly impacted the game. His defensive presence and scoring prowess posed challenges for Alabama, contributing 19 points and disrupting their rhythm.
Remarkably, three-pointers remained scarce throughout the game, with both teams combining for only 10, a stark contrast to Alabama’s previous performance.
Despite Kalkbrenner’s return, Alabama excelled in the paint, recording a season-high 62 points and outrebounding Creighton, but foul troubles persisted, resulting in critical disqualifications for key players.
Mark Sears emerged as Alabama’s leading scorer, showcasing resilience despite struggles from downtown, keeping the game competitive until the final moments.
The game concluded with Sears attempting a last-second half-court shot, narrowly missing as Creighton secured the win.
Coach Oats acknowledged the team’s shortcomings against formidable opponents like Creighton, looking ahead to the next challenge against the top-ranked unbeaten Arizona Wildcats in Phoenix, aiming for an upset on ESPN’s Wednesday broadcast at 10 p.m. CT.
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Our Reader’s Queries
How many times has Creighton been in the NCAA?
The Bluejays have clinched an impressive 15 MVC regular season conference titles and a remarkable 12 MVC tournament titles. They have also made a striking 23 appearances in the NCAA tournament.
Has Alabama won a natty in basketball?
In 1930, Alabama was crowned national champion in men’s college basketball. However, the NCAA Tournament didn’t begin until 1939, when the Oregon Ducks emerged as the champions. Despite their early success, the Crimson Tide has not made it to a Final Four since their championship win.