🏀 🏀 Alabama vs. Duke in Elite Eight: Blue Devils end Bama's run with 85-65 victory

Men's Basketball - 2025 Men's Basketball Tournament Central

2025 Men's Basketball Tournament Central for Alabama Crimson Tide Men's Basketball

rolltide.com

 

[Rolltide24]

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Hard to beat a team when shooting poorly, really hard to beat a good team when they are shooting at a high clip and you are shooting at one of your worst performances of the year.

For all the bemoaning everyone is doing in this thread, it just boils down to the fact that we did not hit our shots today and Duke was above average.

Agree, but they were below their shooting average based on the first 3 games of the tourney. Their 3rd worst shooting percentage through 4 games.

 

[Kamikazi18627]

Agree, but they were below their shooting average based on the first 3 games of the tourney. Their 3rd worst shooting percentage through 4 games.

They didn’t need to shoot well. Just shoot better than us. I think Duke knew we had no answer for anything in the paint if we couldn’t make shots from three. That’s exactly what happened. We couldn’t hit shots so they made it impossible to get to the rim. Good defense and plan by them. Clearly the byu game was more about luck than skill and game planning.

 

[mando]

When Bama played defensive minded teams that could guard the 3 point line and had a shot blocker in the paint they got drilled (UF and Duke). Sears has won a lot of awards but when it is said and done he is not the elite talent needed to compete with NBA type guys. Appreciae all he has done for Bama. He has always represented himself and Bama well. Hate he had to go out with that performance but it is what it is.

Very dissapointing performance by Bama. Probably made it worse to have the performance they had Thursday to turn around and have that performance but that is what real defense looks like. Been around a long time and high flying offenses eventually get shut down which is why you have to play high level defense to get your self through those games. Bama did not have that and has not had it the last two years.

Now it is time to root for whoever is playing the Barn or the Viles.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I hate the run ended again, but it's comforting knowing that this isn't some one-off thing anymore that only comes around once every 2 decades. Oats wants a championship. Badly. He's going to keep constructing teams that can put Bama in position to do so. Sooner or later, IMO, he's going to unlock the right roster at the right time. Imagine Brandon Miller on this year's team for example. They tried like hell to get Dybansta for next year. They have a competitive collective/NIL to work with which is about to go up some. It's a matter of when, not if.

And thanks to the seniors on this years team...

 

[Secondand26]

You know what? I’m going to acknowledge that Duke may be the best team in the nation. I’m also going to take the position of not trashing our players. I don’t have a lot of respect for fans that alternately cheer & trash said players. I’ve been a Bama fan since ‘72 and I’ve seen a helluva lot worse Bama teams than the last few years. Reel it back a little guys.

 

[Secondand26]

Mark Sears: "I'm just very thankful I got to play for Coach Oats and the University of Alabama"

Classy

 

[Bammerboy321]

Mark Sears: "I'm just very thankful I got to play for Coach Oats and the University of Alabama"

Classy

Most decorated player in Bama history and 100% the best. Not the most talented but definitely played above his size.

His Clemson performance is a legendary College Basketball moment.

 

[Bammerboy321]

I hate the run ended again, but it's comforting knowing that this isn't some one-off thing anymore that only comes around once every 2 decades. Oats wants a championship. Badly. He's going to keep constructing teams that can put Bama in position to do so. Sooner or later, IMO, he's going to unlock the right roster at the right time. Imagine Brandon Miller on this year's team for example. They tried like hell to get Dybansta for next year. They have a competitive collective/NIL to work with which is about to go up some. It's a matter of when, not if.

And thanks to the seniors on this years team...

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Oats pretty much just said the same, listing the accomplishments the last 3 years... and said Bama will keep knocking at the door. We ain't going anywhere.

 

[Bammerboy321]

Oats pretty much just said the same, listing the accomplishments the last 3 years... and said Bama will keep knocking at the door. We ain't going anywhere.

Always was a matter of time before he had a run to the F4. Last season's was just so much fun because of how unexpected it was. You combine his system, talent, and intensity as a coach, undoubtedly you'll break through with a magical run. Preston Murphy and Oats never sleep either when it comes to roster management.

Can't take runs like this for granted either. Making it to the Elite 8 after a Final Four ain't easy. Just glad we finally have a coach that has success in March. Love Wimp for all he did here, but his teams were not built for the tournament. Oats' teams have a propensity to go the fuck off, which honestly makes them the most dangerous team in the region every season.

 

[Bammerboy321]

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

 

[24and7]

That was just an ASS WHOOPIN..No way to sugar coat it..

 

[PurlJam]

Pretty good chance that 4 of our losses this season were against the national champs. Duke, UF, Aubie or Vol'n'Tears. I'm gonna have to pull for UF or Houston, not that big on Kelvin though.

 

[mando]

Pretty good chance that 4 of our losses this season were against the national champs. Duke, UF, Aubie or Vol'n'Tears. I'm gonna have to pull for UF or Houston, not that big on Kelvin though.

I have UF vs Duke in my bracket with UF winning it so I have to pull for them. However based on what I have seen in this tournament and how each team is playing I think Duke is playing the best and will likely win it. Just as long as the Barn or Viles do not make it or heaven forbid win it..

 

[Crtuneman]

I guess I was most disappointed that this team had so much experience and senior leadership, and yet they were so inconsistent and underwhelming at times. I really expected this team to make the title game just because of senior leadership and experience. I really don't understand why this team underperformed. But in fairness Duke is essentially an NBA team and they will definitely win it all. No one is stopping them.

 

[TerryP]

I really don't understand why this team underperformed.

I'm on the other side of this fence. There are 352 teams in D1 ball and Bama proved they are one of the best eight in the country. I can't see that as under-performing. If we add some of the "injury luck" to the context of this season?

 

[rick4bama]

Well since my bracket is buster now. I think I and we saw the next Champs.

 

[Rolltide24]

At least Maluach didn’t puke on us

 

[BamaFan334]

I'm on the other side of this fence. There are 352 teams in D1 ball and Bama proved they are one of the best eight in the country. I can't see that as under-performing. If we add some of the "injury luck" to the context of this season?

Add in "bracket luck". Duke was a buzzsaw and I made those comments as soon as the bracket came out. We got a raw deal there and should have been in the Florida or Houston bracket, which was much more navigable. Our opponents leading to Duke were not bad, but sitting in the Top 5 most of the year and to square up against a 3 loss team was a rough pull. Still unsure why Duke wasn't #1 overall.