Top-seeded Alabama advances to Sweet 16 with dominant win over Maryland

Brandon Miller heated up, and so did Alabama, which averted the destiny of two different high NCAA Tournament seeds and brushed apart Maryland 73-51 behind a dominant second half on Saturday night time.

The Crimson Tide (31-5) superior to their second Sweet 16 previously three tournaments and ninth general. Alabama will face fifth-seeded San Diego State within the South Region semifinals in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday.

Before the sport even tipped off two high seeds, Purdue and defending nationwide champion Kansas, had gone down, and No. 1 seed Houston trailed Tide rival Auburn by 10 factors at halftime earlier at Legacy Arena earlier than pulling away.

Alabama and Miller bought off to a gradual begin, however the All-America freshman and high NBA prospect wound up with 19 factors after going scoreless within the first-round recreation. Miller is nursing a groin harm and missed his first 9 photographs of the match.

Brandon Miller #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with teammates throughout the first half towards the Maryland Terrapins within the second spherical of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena on the BJCC on March 18, 2023, in Birmingham, Alabama.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Jahvon Quinerly scored 22 factors on the one-year anniversary of his left knee harm early in a second-round loss to Notre Dame, which nonetheless restricted him earlier this season. Quinerly made 4 of 6 3-pointers.

Charles Bediako had 10 factors and 10 rebounds. Alabama’s starters hit the bench with a few minutes left to chants of “Sweet 16” within the pleasant crowd.

Julian Reese had 14 factors for Maryland (22-13) earlier than fouling out. Jahmir Young scored 12.

Alabama, the highest general seed, confronted scant drama, in contrast to the opposite No. 1s.

Brandon Miller #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts throughout the first half towards the Maryland Terrapins within the second spherical of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena on the BJCC on March 18, 2023, in Birmingham, Alabama.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON’S EXPLICIT ABBREVIATION PUTS INTERNET IN FRENZY AFTER MARCH MADNESS UPSET

 No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson toppled top-seeded Purdue 63-58 on Friday in solely the second such upset. Then No. 8 Arkansas beat the Jayhawks 72-71 earlier Saturday. Houston finally pulled away from Auburn because the Tide waited for his or her alternative.

The first half was extra to Maryland’s liking, aside from the 28-23 deficit, for a group got here in giving up simply 63 factors a recreation.

BIG PICTURE

Maryland: The 2002 nationwide champion Terps did not make their fifteenth journey to the Sweet 16 in coach Kevin Willard’s first season. They additionally misplaced to Alabama within the second spherical two years in the past underneath former coach Mark Turgeon. Maryland’s protection was on level sufficient that it saved the lead for a lot of the primary half regardless of a stretch of 9 straight misses.

Alabama ahead Brandon Miller (24) is guarded by Maryland guard Jahmir Young (1) within the first half of a second-round faculty basketball recreation within the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., Saturday, March 18, 2023.  (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alabama: Its depth has been on show thus far. The Tide managed the sport regardless of not getting a lot scoring from starters Mark Sears and Noah Clowney or Nick Pringle, the star of the opening recreation towards Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

UP NEXT

Alabama faces a San Diego State group making its first Sweet 16 look since 2004, which was additionally the yr of the Tide’s solely Elite Eight run. The Crimson Tide have by no means reached the Final Four.