Alabama's Last Tournament Win over Maryland Helped Build Foundation for Program's Current Success

Jahvon Quinerly, the only current Alabama player that beat Maryland last time, talks to the 2021 seniors about finishing the job they started two years ago.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two years ago in March, Alabama faced Maryland in the Round of 32. The Crimson Tide won 96-77 behind 16 made 3-pointers. 

The only scholarship player remaining from that Alabama roster is Jahvon Quinerly as the Crimson Tide prepares to face the Terrapins again in the Round of 32, this time in Birmingham Saturday night in front of a heavily crimson-clad crowd. Quinerly had 14 points off the bench along with a career-high 11 assists in the win two years ago. 

Several of Alabama's freshmen have checked out the footage from that game two years. Rylan Griffen looked up the highlights once the matchup with Maryland was set, and Brandon Miller was watching some clips from the game Friday morning at breakfast. 

"We were talking about it the other day just how well we shot in that game," Quinerly said Friday. "That was a game all of our shooters were hitting…. So our younger guys went back and watched it. They saw we weren’t exaggerating when JP’s (John Petty's) hitting back-to-back 3s and stuff. But I think they know that this isn't going to be a walk in the park.”

Miller said he watched Quinerly take over that game with his leadership and feels like he will be able to provide similar energy for the Crimson Tide again this weekend. 

Maryland has a new head coach, Kevin Willard, and an almost entirely new roster too, but for the players that were there two years ago, it could be extra motivation.

Charles Bediako was a senior in high school when Alabama made the run to the Sweet 16 in 2021. He remembers watching the Maryland game from his dorm at IMG Academy. 

"[Alabama] handed it to them," Bediako said. "Obviously, they [Maryland] didn't forget that moment. They’ll probably be more aggressive. They’ll do anything they do to get the win just like we’re gonna do what we need to get the win, so it should be a good matchup."

Alabama head coach Nate Oats hasn't had time to go back and watch film from the previous matchup as he has too much scouting to get done for this year's game, but he wouldn't mind another shooting performance like the one his team had that day.

"It would be great if we shot it that well this time," Oats said. "They're a really good defensive team. They're a really well coached team. Coach Willard has done a great job. Some of the players they currently have who played in the last game are tough. There's not a whole lot that you can take away from that, but it is ironic that two years later we get them in the second round again."

Even though Quinerly was the only player there, but walk-on Adam Cottrell was on the team and watching. 

"I think it’s pretty cool that it’s a similar path because that team two years ago had so much to do with turning this program around," Cottrell said. 

This year's team is heavily led in production by underclassmen and freshmen specifically. But two years ago, the seniors that stuck around helped lead the Crimson Tide to the Sweet 16. 

In the 2021 game, John Petty had 20 points and four made 3-pointers for Alabama. Alex Reese made three shots from beyond the arc and finished with 14 points. It was a quieter game for Herb Jones with 6 points, but he also had 6 rebounds. Quinerly credited those seniors along with Jordan Bruner for helping set the Alabama program on the trajectory its on now. 

When Petty, Reese and Jones came to Alabama as freshman in 2017, the program had been to the NCAA Tournament just once in over a decade. They helped lead the Crimson Tide to two NCAA Tournaments, including the SEC championship sweep and Sweet 16 run in 2021. 

Alabama has been to the NCAA back-to-back years since that senior class graduated, and is now a No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. 

"I still talk to those guys all the time," Quinerly said. "They’re telling me, 'Finish the job. Finish the job.' Because they know two years ago we should’ve gone all the way with it.”

See also:

NCAA Basketball Tournament: How To Watch Alabama vs. Maryland

Nate Oats Expects Brandon Miller to be 'Ready to Go' on Saturday

What Nate Oats, Alabama Basketball Said Ahead of Maryland