I truly thought the SEC was a strong conference this season, tough enough that Alabama with some pretty good players could manage only a 9-9 mark against the league before being one-and-done against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament. Everyone knows that Alabama’s overall record of 19-14 included those big wins, including over the aforementioned Gonzaga, but the Crimson Tide certainly was limping into the NCAA Tournament, living off those earlier wins but on a three-game losing streak.
Still, it looked like things set up well for Bama. The Tide would arrive early to San Diego to await (and wait and wait, since it went double overtime) the arrival of Notre Dame from its win over Rutgers in the First Four in Dayton. Notre Dame plays basketball in the ACC, which did not appear to be anything special this season, and the Fighting Irish should be tired.
But Notre Dame made Alabama look like Alabama has so often this season, which is to say defenseless – literally and figuratively. No. 11 seed Notre Dame 78, No. 6 Alabama 64.
Bama, of course, had company in its misery.
No. 2 Kentucky (now 26-8) was the first bracket-buster, falling to No. 15 St. Peter’s, 85-79, in the first round.
Not nearly as surprising was LSU, a not-so-strong-ass No. 6 and with no Will Wade as coach, going down to No. 11 Iowa State, 59-54.
Still, it looked like things set up well for Bama. The Tide would arrive early to San Diego to await (and wait and wait, since it went double overtime) the arrival of Notre Dame from its win over Rutgers in the First Four in Dayton. Notre Dame plays basketball in the ACC, which did not appear to be anything special this season, and the Fighting Irish should be tired.
But Notre Dame made Alabama look like Alabama has so often this season, which is to say defenseless – literally and figuratively. No. 11 seed Notre Dame 78, No. 6 Alabama 64.
Bama, of course, had company in its misery.
No. 2 Kentucky (now 26-8) was the first bracket-buster, falling to No. 15 St. Peter’s, 85-79, in the first round.
Not nearly as surprising was LSU, a not-so-strong-ass No. 6 and with no Will Wade as coach, going down to No. 11 Iowa State, 59-54.
