The Extra Point: Reacting to Alabama Basketball's NCAA Tournament Draw

The BamaCentral crew breaks down what teams separate the Crimson Tide from a trip to Houston and the Final Four.

SI Editorial | Mar 13, 2023

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Alabama Crimson Tide

Selection Sunday has come and gone, and Alabama was revealed to be the number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Joey Blackwell and Wyatt Fulton break down the Crimson Tide's path to Houston.

"Chances are high that Alabama makes it out of the South region considering they have a favorable draw," Blackwell said.

This bracket features a potential rematch of the round of 32 from the 2021 NCAA Tournament where Alabama dominated Maryland in a 96-77 thumping as the Crimson Tide advanced to the Sweet 16. Guards John Petty and Jaden Shackelford led Alabama in scoring that day with 20 and 21 points respectively.

It's the NCAA Tournament for a reason, and the title "March Madness" is indeed fitting. Alabama should theoretically match up well with 4-seeded Virginia in the sweet 16, but don't count out San Diego State in a potential matchup with Virginia as well.

The other side of the bracket is a little more intimidating than the Crimson Tide's foreseeable matchups, with 2-seed Arizona and 3-seed Baylor appearing to be on a collision course before an inevitable matchup with the Tide in the Elite 8.

"Baylor being seeded 3 is incredibly underrated. I think they're a very good Baylor team, one of the more intimidating teams" -Joey Blackwell

The Crimson Tide hope to be playing deep into March Madness this year. The only appearance Alabama has had in the Elite 8 was the 2004 NCAA Tournament under head coach Mark Gottfried.

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