TAMPA, Fla. – The Alabama Crimson Tide showcased their dominance on Sunday night, defeating the Texas Tech Red Raiders by a score of 90-65 in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. This victory marked Alabama”s advancement to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year, despite being without their second-leading scorer. Their top scorer also struggled, finishing below ten points for only the second time this season.
Alabama”s shooting was a highlight, as they connected on 19 three-pointers, ranking as the third-most in NCAA tournament history. Leading the charge was Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who contributed 24 points, including six shots from beyond the arc. “You never want to stop playing. You don”t want it to end,” Wrightsell remarked. “We came out with energy and effort that wasn”t matched today. We played for each other and approached each possession with focus.”
Defensively, Alabama put forth one of their most impressive performances of the season, out-rebounding Texas Tech by a margin of 12. The Crimson Tide held the Red Raiders to a mere 34 percent shooting from the field and an astonishing 16 percent from three-point range.
Looking ahead, Alabama faces a formidable challenge against Michigan, the number one seed in the tournament. Head coach Nate Oats is beginning to see parallels between this team and the one that reached the Final Four two years ago. “When we made the Final Four, our defense improved significantly during the tournament,” Oats stated. “If we guard like we did tonight, particularly at the point of attack, we can compete with anyone in the country.”
As the team prepares to travel to Chicago for their next matchup, BamaCentral will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the Crimson Tide”s journey in the NCAA Tournament.
For further analysis of Alabama”s impressive Round of 32 performance against Texas Tech, watch the video featuring writers Joe Gaither and Katie Windham.
Katie Windham serves as the assistant editor for BamaCentral, focusing on various sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, and softball. A two-time graduate of the University of Alabama, she has been reporting on Crimson Tide athletics since 2019 for multiple outlets before joining BamaCentral full-time in 2021.
