UCONN VS. ALABAMA

Game: National championship semifinal

Location: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Az. (71,000)

Tip time: 8:49 p.m. (TBS)

Records: Top-seeded UConn 35-3, No. 4 Alabama 25-11

Series: UConn leads, 2-0, winning 82-67 in Nov. 2022 in the Phil Knight Invitational in Portland and 87-71 in 2004 NCAA Elite Eight.

Tournament path: UConn beat No. 16 Stetson, 91-52, No. 9 Northwestern, 75-58, No. 5 San Diego State, 82-52, No. 3 Illinois, 77-52; Alabama beat No. 13 College of Charleston, 109-96, No. 12 Grand Canyon, 72-61, No. 1 North Carolina, 89-87, and No. 6 Clemson, 89-82.

Probable starters, UConn, 6-5 grad guard Tristen Newton (15 pts, 6.7 rebs, 6.1 assists), 6-4 grad guard Cam Spencer (14.4 pts, 4.7 rebs), 6-6 fr. guard Stephon Castle (10.7 pts, 4.7 rebs), 6-8 r-so. forward Alex Karaban (13.5 pts, 4.9 rebs), 7-2 so. center Donovan Clingan (12.9 pts, 7.5 rebs, 2.4 blks)

Alabama, 6-1 sr. guard Mark Sears (21.5 pts, 4.1 rebs, 4.1 assists), 6-3 grad guard Aaron Estrada (13.5 pts, 5.5 rebs, 4.7 assists), 6-6 so. guard Rylan Griffen (11.3 pts, 3.5 rebs), 6-10 sr. forward Nick Pringle (7 pts, 5.3 rebs), 6-11 sr. forward Grant Nelson (11.7 pts, 5.6 rebs)

Noteworthy: UConn is making its seventh Final Four appearance, Alabama its first. … The Huskies are an NCAA record 10-1 all-time in Final Four games, losing to Michigan State, 82-73, in the 2009 national semifinals in Detroit. … An AllSEC first team selection, Sears is averaging 24.7 points in tournament play. … Alabama senior Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (head injury) could return to action after missing the last two games. He averages 9.0 points and 3.0 rebs. … Alabama has scored at least 100 points in a game 10 times, allowing that mark three times. It leads the SEC in scoring 90.6) but ranks last in scoring defense (81.10. … Hot: Clingan leads UConn in scoring and rebounding through four tourney games. Cold: UConn is shooting 28% from three during the tournament. … Newton needs 12 assists to pass Marcus Williams (243, 2004-05) and move into 2nd place in the school’s single season record list. … Huskies are 31-1 vs. non-conference foes the last two seasons. … In the AP top 25, UConn is No. 1, Alabama No. 19. … UConn is 6-0 in NCAA tournament games in the state of Arizona. … Huskies are 69-32 all-time in March Madness action. … Up next: If UConn advances, it will face either No. 1 Purdue or No. 11 NC State in the national title game on Monday.