LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It was an inexpensive query: With the cloud hanging over the Alabama basketball group from a lethal capturing earlier this season, Coach Nate Oats was requested, had he and his gamers been in a position to get pleasure from their run to the second weekend of the N.C.A.A. males’s basketball match.
“Yeah, we’re having a blast,” Oats mentioned of his group, which had garnered the highest seed within the match. “We’re profitable video games. We all know who we’re. We’ve acquired an incredible group of fellows that lean on one another, which have come shut.”
After rolling to a pair of snug victories within the N.C.A.A. match, which adopted a romp to the Southeastern Convention title, the Crimson Tide lastly skilled slings and arrows on the courtroom — and so they crumpled underneath the duress, dropping to San Diego State, 71-64, in a South regional semifinal.
It was the third consecutive season Alabama had exited the match as a heavy favourite. The Crimson Tide had been overwhelmed the previous two seasons by 11 seeds, U.C.L.A. and Notre Dame, however this loss — to the fifth-seeded Aztecs — carried with it a better shock.
After two No. 1 seeds, Purdue and final yr’s champion Kansas, exited within the first weekend, Alabama headed right here with two different threats within the area eradicated — second-seeded Arizona and third-seeded Baylor.
However on Thursday night time, Alabama discovered itself bothered by San Diego State’s bodily play and sluggish tempo, and wasted a 9-point lead within the second half. Alabama’s star freshman, ahead Brandon Miller, couldn’t rescue his group, ending with 9 factors on 3-of-19 capturing and 6 turnovers.
Miller missed eight of 9 3-pointers — together with one with 34.1 seconds left and Alabama trailing, 68-64. After a San Diego State free throw, Nathan Mensah blocked Jahvon Quinerly’s layup try — the fourth on the Alabama level guard within the second half and Mensah’s eighth of the sport — to all however seal it. — Billy Witz
Miami withstood a 21-point comeback to beat Villanova.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The round-of-16 recreation was slipping away from Miami, as Villanova closed a 21-point hole.
However the ninth-seeded Hurricanes stopped the reversal within the last minute, scoring 6 straight factors to beat fourth-seeded Villanova on Friday, 70-65, to advance to its first round-of-8 recreation within the ladies’s N.C.A.A. match.
“I can’t consider it,” Miami Coach Katie Meier mentioned. “I’m not going to behave cool. That is superior.”
Villanova had cruised to the spherical of 16, beating its lower-seeded opponents by a median of 18 factors. The Wildcats appeared to be constructing for a run behind their star, Maddy Siegrist, the highest scorer in Division I.
However from the start of Friday’s recreation, it was clear that this matchup could be a lot completely different from Villanova’s earlier video games.
Miami’s protection smothered Villanova’s ballhandlers, hounding them as quickly as they inbounded the ball. Miami’s pace and physicality made up for a top drawback and compelled rushed pictures and turnovers, inflicting Villanova’s offense to look confused. By the point Villanova appeared to have figured Miami’s protection out within the second half, it gave the impression to be too late.
However Siegrist, who scored a game-high 31 factors, led a livid rally within the third and fourth quarters as Miami tightened up, seemingly frightened of spiraling. Nonetheless, the Hurricanes held shut although they blew their lead.
Siegrist, who might depart faculty early to declare for the W.N.B.A. draft, tearfully mentioned after the sport that her future was unsure.
“I’ve acquired to speak to my mother and father and stuff,” Siegrist mentioned. “However I couldn’t be extra grateful for the chance to be right here. Like so many good individuals, and it’s actually in regards to the individuals, take the basketball half out of it, the recollections and other people I’ll cherish perpetually.”
Miami had confronted a way more tough path to the spherical of 16 than Villanova, with shut video games and a win over Indiana, a No. 1 seed, on its dwelling flooring.
Miami will play Louisiana State on Sunday. — Kris Rhim
Utah slowed Angel Reese however couldn’t cease L.S.U.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Louisiana State’s star ahead Angel Reese headed towards the sideline together with her face in her palms after fouling out with simply over 4 seconds left, her group holding a 1-point lead. Utah ahead Jenna Johnson went to the free-throw line, the L.S.U.-leaning crowd chanted loudly, and she or he missed each.
No. 3-seeded L.S.U. acquired two extra free throws and a essential last cease to eke previous No. 2 seed Utah, 66-63, to advance to the spherical of 8 for the primary time since 2008.
Utah appeared targeted on taking away Reese, and the Utes did sluggish her down a bit, holding her to 17 factors.
However that technique freed up alternatives for ahead LaDazhia Williams, who scored 24 on 11-of-14 capturing, usually celebrating when her buckets went in.
“They’re not a one-trick pony, as they are saying,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts mentioned. “They acquired quite a lot of good gamers.”
Williams scored 7 factors within the second quarter, after Reese picked up her second foul and left the sport. Utah had seemed prefer it may be pulling away, however Williams stored L.S.U. shut. “I felt like I wanted to step up as a senior,” mentioned Williams, who referred to as the sport the perfect of her profession.
L.S.U. had been an everyday contender within the early 2000s, making 5 straight Remaining Fours. However this system had seen a decline till Kim Mulkey arrived from Baylor forward of final season. Mulkey, a three-time nationwide champion, added transfers, like Reese, and instantly made the Tigers related once more.
Mulkey has fearful that their quick begin would possibly create outsize expectations in Baton Rouge. “Could be feeding that monster too shortly, but it surely positive beats the heck out of dropping,” she mentioned.
L.S.U. will play Miami on Sunday. — Kris Rhim