Second-seeded Alabama and its East Area second spherical opponent, No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s, come into Sunday’s matchup in Cleveland every having obtained a dose of high-stakes basketball.
The Crimson Tide (26-8) held off a stiff problem from Horizon League champion and No. 15 seed Robert Morris, 90-81, behind 22 factors and 10 assists from Mark Sears — and with an unanticipated contribution from Grant Nelson.
Nelson, who sustained a knee damage in final week’s Southeastern Convention match, suited up on Friday however was questionable to play. With Robert Morris remaining inside one or two possessions of Alabama, Nelson performed seven minutes down the stretch.
“We did not play in addition to we had hoped, and Grant was like, ‘We’re not going dwelling, put me in,'” Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats mentioned.
Sears and Nelson led Alabama’s run to the 2024 Remaining 4, and the duo are once more the Tide’s prime scorers. Sears leads the way in which with 18.8 factors per recreation, whereas Nelson is second at 11.6. Sears additionally leads Alabama with 5.1 assists per recreation, and Nelson is the group’s prime rebounder at 7.5 boards per recreation.
“I believe he’ll be all proper,” Oats mentioned of Nelson’s standing for Sunday. “We have to get him a bunch of rehab as a result of we’ll for certain want him… (Saint Mary’s has) received so much greater entrance court docket (than Robert Morris).”
The Gaels (29-5) leveraged their frontcourt size for a 41-28 rebounding edge of their come-from-behind, 59-56 win over Vanderbilt.
Saint Mary’s grabbed 9 of its 10 offensive boards within the second half, together with Mitchell Saxen coming down with one in all his 11 rebounds in whole within the ultimate minute to earn a visit to the free-throw line.
The play proved essential, forcing Vanderbilt to take a contested 3-pointer on its ultimate possession.
“An enormous a part of the rebounding for us is attrition,” Gaels coach Randy Bennett mentioned. “We simply preserve coming, preserve coming, preserve coming.”
Saint Mary’s heads into the second spherical ranked second nationally in offensive rebounding proportion. The Gaels frontcourt dimension helps: Saxen is 6-foot-10 and 250 kilos, whereas Harry Wesseis is 7-foot-1, 275 kilos.
However Saint Mary’s guards additionally crash the boards successfully, evident on Friday with wings Luke Barrett grabbing 10 rebounds, Augustas Marciulionis developing with eight, and Jordan Ross’ three together with a victory-sealing snare.
Alabama has dimension of its personal, notably if the 6-foot-11 Nelson is ready to contribute extensively. Nelson is ready to stretch ground, shifting out to the perimeter, when 6-foot-11 Clifford Omoruyi is on the court docket with him.
In any other case, the Crimson Tide may make use of a smaller, sooner lineup emphasizing efficient perimeter scorers Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway, who’ve averaged 10.6 and 11.2 factors per recreation.
Saint Mary’s is unlikely to waver from its recreation plan no matter the kind of lineups it sees on Sunday.
“It is only a distinction in kinds. (Opponents will) go down (in) dimension and play with one massive and…simply type of stretch you out,” Bennett mentioned of groups seeking to neutralize the Gaels inside size this season. “As a result of we’ve Saxen, we are able to guard that stuff higher than individuals suppose. We’ve got two 5s on the market, Mitchell can guard 4s.”
–Discipline Stage Media