It was a foul, dangerous Candy 16 for the favorites. Except in fact your identify is UConn.
Within the West Area, Alabama stayed with No. 1 seed North Carolina all evening lengthy, then outscored the Tar Heels 7-2 within the last 1:32. The consequence was an 89-87 win for the No. 4 seed Crimson Tide. Grant Nelson scored 24 for Alabama, with 19 coming within the second half alone. His old style 3-point play put the Tide forward within the last minute. Nelson then sealed the victory with two free throws Nat Oats’ crew made its share of 3s as ordinary, going 11-of-26 behind the arc. Maybe extra stunning have been the 15 offensive rebounds Alabama pulled down in opposition to UNC within the high-scoring affair.
The Tide are going to the Elite Eight for the primary time since 2004. They reached the Candy 16 final 12 months and in 2021. They may face the opposite crew that orchestrated an upset earlier within the night, No. 6 seed Clemson, which toppled No. 2 seed Arizona.
Within the a lot much less dramatic East area, Illinois overcame the stifling protection of Iowa State and can face UConn on Saturday.
Right here, what the primary set of regional semifinal video games instructed us in regards to the race for the nationwide championship.
Was that the sport of the event? Let’s all take a deep breath after that one. I suppose that is what occurs whenever you pit two of probably the most explosive offenses within the nation in opposition to one another. A mixed 176 factors, one crew taking pictures over 40% from 3, the opposite holding a 10-point lead solely to present it up and a ridiculous tempo of play that made it appear extra like a observe meet than a basketball sport. In a sport that went all the way down to the wire, each possession felt prefer it weighed a ton of bricks. In the end, senior Grant Nelson not solely led all scorers with 24 factors, he added 12 rebounds and 5 essential blocks to guide Alabama to a consequence that was an upset in identify solely.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
What the win means for Alabama: The Tide simply took out the highest seed within the West and are again within the Elite Eight for the primary time since 2004, solely the second time in class historical past. The historic win for Nate Oats’ crew comes throughout a 23-win season through which it completed second within the SEC. Final 12 months might have included extra wins (31) and a greater shot at going deeper within the event, however this 12 months’s crew has proved it has the expertise and offensive firepower to compete with anybody.
“This man confirmed up tonight in opposition to among the best bigs within the nation,” Oats mentioned of Nelson’s efficiency postgame. “I believe folks query whether or not [we’re] delicate or what not, Grant confirmed we’re not. We will play with the large boys.”
What the loss means for North Carolina: A 12 months after turning into the primary preseason No. 1 crew to overlook the NCAA event, the Tar Heels appeared primed for a deep event run, very similar to the one which led to the championship sport two years in the past. But, regardless of the excess of expertise and boasting the highest seed within the West, Hubert Davis’ crew could not maintain on to a lead in opposition to an Alabama crew that matched them shot for shot Thursday evening. — Paolo Uggetti
0:32
Glorious ball motion results in a Clingan dunk and the foul
UConn strikes the ball flawlessly with it ending up in a Donovan Clingan and-1 dunk.
Can UConn’s NCAA event probably be extra dominant than final season?UConn was unstoppable in final 12 months’s NCAA event. The Huskies received their six video games by a mean of 20.0 factors, the fourth-largest common because the event expanded in 1985. To this point this 12 months, they have been even higher. They’ve received their three video games by a mean of 28.7 factors. They’ve trailed for 28 seconds. They’ve led by double digits within the second half for 58:27 of a potential 60 minutes. San Diego State performed about in addition to it might for the opening stretch of the sport and located itself down by 11 inside 9 minutes. The scariest half for future opponents is it looks like UConn has been capable of preserve one thing within the tank, hardly ever needing to place its foot on the fuel down the stretch in video games.
2024 Males’s School Basketball Championship Odds
What the win means for UConn: A constructive signal for the Huskies on Thursday evening was the play of Hassan Diarra. The reserve guard got here off the bench and offered an actual carry within the second half, scoring 10 factors and distributing 4 assists — placing the sport out of attain for San Diego State shortly after halftime. Huskies heart Donovan Clingan struggled in opposition to the Aztecs’ Jaedon LeDee within the first half however turned extra snug as the sport went on and nonetheless was a nuisance defensively. UConn ahead Alex Karaban hit a pair early pictures however then struggled to attach the remainder of the sport. And whereas these would possibly seem to be potential negatives, Dan Hurley have to be thrilled that his crew beat an excellent San Diego State crew by 30 with out taking part in its greatest.
What the loss means for San Diego State: For the second season in a row, San Diego State’s season ends in opposition to UConn. The Aztecs truly went shot for shot with the Huskies early however merely did not have sufficient firepower offensively. Final season at this level within the event, when SDSU beat total 1-seed Alabama within the Candy 16, it had one of the crucial dominant defenses within the nation — and was getting constant scoring manufacturing from its perimeter gamers. The protection wasn’t fairly nearly as good this season, the offensive wasn’t practically nearly as good and LeDee could not do all of it himself. However nationwide runners-up adopted by a Candy 16 run? That is a powerful two-year run for Brian Dutcher and the Aztecs. — Jeff Borzello
0:40
Terrence Shannon Jr.’s steal and slam leads Illinois to the Elite Eight
Terrence Shannon Jr. comes up with a clutch steal and slam dunk as Illinois advances previous Iowa State to the Elite Eight.
Can Illinois make UConn sweat? The Huskies have barely been pushed to this point this event, main by double digits for principally your complete second half in all three video games. However Illinois confirmed a stage of toughness, particularly defensively, that would go a great distance, particularly when mixed with the Illini’s elite offense. Since UConn turned absolutely wholesome in January, the one crew to beat it was Creighton, which scored 85 factors and made 14 3s. It’s important to rating factors to beat the Huskies. Illinois can do this. Brad Underwood has the nation’s No. 2 offense at KenPom and one of many nation’s most proficient offensive gamers in Terrence Shannon Jr. He additionally has loads of dimension on the perimeter, a bonafide No. 2 scorer in Marcus Domask and a giant man in Coleman Hawkins who can power Donovan Clingan away from the rim. UConn remains to be the favourite, however Illinois would possibly be capable of push the defending nationwide champs like nobody else has in two NCAA tournaments.
Prime tales of the week from 
Get unique entry to 1000’s of premium articles a 12 months from high writers.• MLB payroll tiers: Low-cost groups, massive $$$ »• Which NFL groups nonetheless have roster holes? »• NHL draft: Rating the highest 32 prospects » Extra ESPN+ content material »
What the win means for Illinois: Shannon’s scoring means was as soon as once more on show Thursday, and he is the kind of participant who can carry a crew to a title. He was averaging 30.5 factors in his previous six video games earlier than going through Iowa State, and regardless of taking part in the nation’s No. 1 protection was capable of put up 29 factors. He needed to shoulder the load greater than ordinary, as Marcus Domask struggled to make pictures, so he’ll want extra assist from his supporting solid in opposition to the Huskies.
What the loss means for Iowa State: What T.J. Otzelberger has accomplished since arriving in Ames is nothing in need of outstanding. The Cyclones have received 70 video games in his three seasons, gone to 3 NCAA tournaments, superior to 2 Candy 16s and received a Large 12 convention event title. They’ve had a top-10 protection all three seasons, together with the nation’s No. 1 unit this marketing campaign. With that type of system and tradition, do not count on issues to vary shifting ahead. There are a number of seniors on the crew — Tre King, Robert Jones, Hason Ward — however Otzelberger’s bringing in a pair of four-star freshmen and already landed Charlotte switch Dishon Jackson. If the previous couple seasons are any indication, the Cyclones will as soon as once more probably be picked too low within the preseason and exceed expectations. — Jeff Borzello
Is Ian Schiefflin Clemson’s best-kept secret?Together with his curly hair contained by an old-school headband, the 6-foot-8 junior from Georgia would possibly seem barely unassuming. However Thursday evening in opposition to an Arizona crew stocked with expertise, Schiefflin turned one of many Tigers’ most efficient gamers and regarded like among the best gamers on the ground. Schiefflin, who’s averaging 9.8 factors and 9.5 rebounds this season, scored 14 factors and added 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block. Whether or not or not the Wildcats ready for Schiefflin taking part in as massive of a task as he did, they could not cease him in key moments. After draining one 3-pointer, the specter of Schiefflin taking pictures from deep tilted the stability of Arizona’s half-court protection, opening up lanes for its two greatest gamers — Chase Hunter (18 factors) and PJ Corridor (17 factors) — to make key performs down the stretch.
Schiefflin, who wore Kobe Bryant footwear to play within the area Bryant starred in for a few years, was requested postgame whether or not he believed he was channeling a Mamba mentality together with his play, which included a key 3 that banked in. Head coach Brad Brownell interjected with fun.
“You are taking part in effectively,” he mentioned. “However do not examine your self to Kobe Bryant, OK?”
0:26
Clemson sinks a pair of and-1 buckets to maneuver on to the Elite Eight
Chase Hunter and Dillon Hunter each make and-1 layups late to seal Clemson’s victory over Arizona.
What the win means for Clemson: The Tigers proceed to defy expectations, and this time, they did it in opposition to one of the crucial proficient groups within the nation in entrance of an Arizona-heavy crowd. Brownell’s squad not solely raced out to a 13-point lead in opposition to the 2-seed, forcing the Wildcats into eight first-half turnovers and an abysmal taking pictures efficiency (37.3% from the sphere, 17.9% from 3), nevertheless it additionally sustained the inevitable Arizona run that tied the sport within the second half and nonetheless emerged victorious. When Arizona started making pictures, Clemson caught to its sport plan, and shortly sufficient, the Wildcats reverted to taking robust pictures they could not make. On offense, the Tigers weren’t scorching scorching by any means, however when the sport bought shut late, they did what Arizona couldn’t: assault the basket as a substitute of settling for jumpers. The technique paid off, and now the Tigers are headed to their first Elite Eight since 1980.
“At this time was our day,” Brownell mentioned. “We made sufficient performs to win.”
What the loss means for Arizona: Among the best offenses within the nation failed to indicate up in L.A. on Thursday, Since 2015, the Wildcats haven’t been ranked decrease than a 6-seed and have been a 2-seed 3 times. And but 2015 is the final time they made it to the Elite Eight. Since Tommy Lloyd’s rent in 2021, Arizona has now misplaced to a 5-seed within the Candy 16, a 15-seed within the opening spherical and now a 6-seed within the Candy 16. Given the expertise the Wildcats have accrued over the previous few years, the outcomes haven’t been there, and this newest event exit will not assist their résumé. — Paolo Uggetti
