NCAA South Region: Alabama Crimson Tide in unfamiliar territory as overall No. 1 seed
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Your guide to Selection Sunday
Follow The Star’s analysis and predictions as the 2023 NCAA Tournament bracket is revealed and KU, K-State and Mizzou are seeded for March Madness.
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The South was the first regional revealed during the bracket announcement, and that means Alabama is the overall No. 1 seed for the first time in hoops history. The Crimson Tide beat Texas A&M Sunday to win the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Alabama’s defense was on fire in Nashville, especially in the final, holding the Aggies to 29.7 percent shooting. The Tide beat three teams — Mississippi State, Missouri and A&M — that made the NCAA field.
If Alabama advances past the winner of Southeast Missouri State vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi, it will meet the 8-9 winner between Maryland and West Virginia. A note on the Mountaineers, who finished 7-11 in the Big 12: The last five teams to reach the NCAA field with a league record of four games under .500 won their first game. Iowa State did it last year and went to the Sweet 16.
Players to watch
Brandon Miller, Alabama’s freshman 6-9 shooter, figures to be the first college player selected in the NBA Draft. He’s not Bama’s only standout. Jahvon Quinerly had 22 on Sunday.
Missouri’s Kobe Brown is averaging fewer minutes than he did last season. But he’s improved his scoring average from 12.5 to 15.8 and his three-point shooting from 20.6% to 44.7%.
Arizona’s Ąžuolas Tubelis is a two-time All-Pac 12 player, and Creighton 7-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner, an All-Big East selection, couldn’t play in the Blue Jays’ second round game against Kansas last year.
First-round upset
No. 12 College of Charleston over No. 5 San Diego State. The Mountain West hasn’t won an NCAA game since 2018. Third-seeded Baylor also will be on upset alert against No. 14 Cal-Santa Barbara.
Sweet 16 surprise
Sixth-seeded Creighton gets past N.C. State and gets a cold-shooting game from Baylor.
Regional final
Alabama over Arizona. The Crimson Tide reach the Final Four for the first time.
This story was originally published March 12, 2023 at 7:13 PM.
