Still Dancing: Tide to Face #1 Seed UNC in Sweet 16

The Alabama Crimson Tide are still dancing in the NCAA Tournament after a hard-fought victory over the Grand Canyon Antelopes. After a blowout win in a high-scoring shootout versus Charleston, the Tide faced a tough challenge in the Antelopes and came out on top with a 72-61 win.

Mark Sears led the way for the Tide with a double-double performance, scoring 26 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists. Sears was not only a force on offense but also played lockdown defense throughout the game. The Tide also got a solid performance from Dioubate, who stepped up at the free-throw line despite being a subpar free-throw shooter.

The game was a physical battle, with both teams shooting in the mid to low 30% range. However, the Tide dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Antelopes 50 to 41 and grabbing 20 offensive rebounds compared to Grand Canyon's 15. The Tide also recorded 10 steals and 9 blocks, showcasing their defensive prowess.

Despite some questionable officiating that seemed to heavily favor Grand Canyon, the Tide stayed focused and closed out the game with a 10-0 run to secure the victory. This win marks the first time Alabama has reached back-to-back Sweet 16s since the early 90s!

Head coach Nate Oats and his team have answered the call and are set to face the #1 seed UNC Tar Heels in the Sweet 16. The Tide will need to bring their A-game once again as they look to continue their impressive tournament run and advance to the Elite Eight. The stage is set, the competition is fierce, but the Tide is still dancing.

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