Alabama tries to slow juggernaut

Alabama coach Nate Oats had to rebuild his roster and replace three assistant coaches. The pieces ended up fitting perfectly.

The fast-and-furious Crimson Tide were among one of the nation’s best offenses all season and rolled into the program’s first Final Four.

The run has taken Alabama to the desert, where the Tide face a daunting task: trying to stop the juggernaut that is reigning national champion UConn.

“We’re going to show our guys success other teams have had,” Oats said. “The success that other teams have had, we also do those things very well. We just can’t give them these big runs that everybody gives up. It’s a lot easier said than done.”

UConn (35-3) dominated the 2023 bracket, winning every game by at least 13 points for its fifth national championship.

Coach Dan Hurley had to replace five of his top seven scorers from that team, yet the Huskies have been even more dominant in their bid to become the first repeat national champions since Florida in 2006-07.

UConn won its first four NCAA Tournament games by an average of 27.8 points and has won 10 straight tournament games over two seasons by double digits. The Huskies have trailed all of 28 seconds in this year’s bracket and pulled off one of the greatest March Madness runs in history against Illinois in the Elite Eight, reeling off 30 straight points in a 25-point win.

Travel delays kept UConn from arriving in Arizona until after 3 a.m. on April 4, yet failed to dent the Huskies’ favored status — they’re 11 1/2-point favorites against Alabama (25-11).

“If we play elite offense, elite defense and beat you on the backboard, we’re tough to beat,” Hurley said.

Combating Clingan One of Alabama’s toughest tests will be matching up with UConn big man Donovan

Clingan.

The 7-foot-2, 280-pound sophomore has anchored the Huskies’ offense all season, averaging 12.9 points on 57% shooting with 7.5 rebounds. He’s been even more dominant defensively, blocking and altering shots for anyone who dares to venture into the paint.

Illinois found out going at Clingan doesn’t end well, missing all 19 of its shots he contested in the Elite Eight.

Alabama doesn’t have anyone with heft to battle Clingan on the block, but has played against elite shot blockers like Purdue’s Zach Edey, Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and Tennessee’s Jonas Aidoo.

“We played against some real shot-blockers. We’ve had some success with them,” Oats said.