Alabama takes down Clemson, advances to program's first-ever Final Four
For the second time this season, Alabama and Clemson met on the hardwood. Brad Brownell‘s team got the job done in Tuscaloosa this past December and was hoping for a repeat result in Los Angeles. Nate Oats made sure his team got revenge though and is now through to the Final Four.
Prior to Saturday night, the furthest Alabama had ever made it in program history was the Elite Eight. A 2004 appearance as an eight-seed was a magical run and is still remembered. However, getting over the hump and reaching the Final Four had been done.
That’s now changed and Alabama will be heading to Phoenix next Saturday. UConn will be the opponent in what has been a couple of the best teams in college basketball over the last two years.
Grant Nelson‘s performance against North Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen will be remembered. When he got in foul trouble early against Clemson, it was Jarin Stevenson who showed up for Alabama. Despite shooting under 30% from three on the season, Stevenson was dialed from deep, making five of eight attempts.
Stevenson’s 19 points finished second on Alabama and it’s no surprise who the leading scorer was. Mark Sears started his night on a cold streak but eventually woke up and made five consecutive three-point attempts to finish with 23 points.
From a Clemson perspective, a heartbreaking result after making the best run of Brownell’s tenure with the program. Many were calling for the coach to be fired but those people were proven wrong with three wins in the NCAA Tournament.
A couple of shooting stats were what eventually led to the Tigers’ fall. Free throws had been a strong suit all season but Clemson made eight of 16 in what wound up being a seven-point loss. And then from the three-point line, a tough 30.8%, going eight of 26.
PJ Hall getting in foul trouble did not help either, fouling out of a game for the eighth time this season. The Clemson star ends his college career with 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Sadness in Clemson while the streets of Tuscaloosa will be celebrating. Their journey is not over yet, still having two games to win before a national championship. Alabama will certainly have a tough path in order to cut down the nets again as UConn is next up.