Final Four expert picks: Does Alabama or Connecticut prevail in semifinals?
Is it a coronation for Connecticut or will the Huskies finally find some resistance at the Final Four. The defending national champions have been dominant during this NCAA men's tournament with all its four wins by an average of more than 25 points. Their first step toward a repeat will come against Alabama, which advanced out of the West Regional with defeats of No. 1 seed North Carolina and No. 6 seed Clemson.
The Crimson Tide have some components to keep things close. They're deep. They shoot the ball well. And they aren't afraid to run up and down the court with UConn. How their offense that relies on the 3-point shot fares in Glendale, Arizona, could determine whether we see a close matchup that has the Huskies pushed or whether it's business as usually and the stage is set for the first repeat in the tournament since Florida in 2006 and 2007. Our experts provide their predictions for how things will fare.
Another double-digit win for Connecticut
Alabama will want to run and gun with UConn. While the Huskies would be comfortable in that setting, the UConn defense is the best the Crimson Tide has faced this tournament and is more than capable of slowing down a high-flying offense. They might come closer than most, but the Tide aren’t strong enough to take down the defending champs. Another double-digit win, here we come. Connecticut 88, Alabama 76 - Paul Myerberg
Alabama has puncher's chance but little else
It's almost impossible to pick against Connecticut given the way Danny Hurley has kept them focused on this tournament run. Even with some difficult travel to Arizona, there's really nothing that can knock the Huskies off the track that ends with them cutting down the nets on Monday. Alabama doesn't have a puncher's chance should the threes fall and the frenetic style it plays at cause issues for UConn. But that just seems like wishful thinking. Connecticut 80, Alabama 67 - Erick Smith
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Alabama shooting will need to be near-perfect
What will it take to beat UConn? It helps if you’re playing them on your own home court, as was the case for the last team to pull it off – Creighton –, but obviously that isn’t an option for Alabama here. The main thing you need to do is shoot the lights out. The Bluejays drained 14-of-28 three-pointers. Can the Crimson Tide do that? Absolutely. Will they. Probably not. The Huskies are well aware of this and are about as dialed in on the defensive end of the floor as a team can be at this late stage of the season. Connecticut 77, Arkansas 61 - Eddie Timanus
Fast pace suits Connecticut
This should be a high-paced, offensive affair. But it's hard to see how Alabama can keep pace with a team that is executing with the precision of UConn if it continues to play as well as it has through this entire postseason. Connecticut 82, Alabama 70 - Dan Wolken