Alabama brought with them the energy and effort that was missing in the first round and coasted past Saint Mary's 80-66 to advance to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive season for only the second time in program history.
Alabama used an outstanding defensive effort in the first half to push out to a 42-29 halftime lead. Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi were both terrific in the front court. Nelson set the tone early with seven first half rebounds, including three on the offensive end, despite being hobbled with the injured knee.
Omoruyi finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Alabama had six players finish in double figures. Chris Youngblood scored 13 points in the first half, connecting on all three of his three-point attempts to pace the Tide's offense in the first half.
Alabama's offense was clicking outside of turnovers. The Tide shot 50.9% from the field and 41.2% from three. They kept Saint Mary's at arm's length all evening long, maintaining at least an eight-point lead for the entirety of the second half.
This was the first time in 105 games that Saint Mary's allowed 80 points or more.
The Crimson Tide will now head to Newark, New Jersey and face off with 6-seed BYU in the Sweet 16.
3 Takeaway's from Alabama's 80-66 win over Saint Mary's
3. Alabama needs Mark Sears to find his shot before the Sweet 16.
It's hard to be disappointed in a 14-point win over a quality opponent to get back to the Sweet 16. But if Alabama wants to advance further, Mark Sears has to find his shot. BYU is an elite offensive team and the Cougars will be able to score on the Crimson Tide.
To keep pace, Sears has to figure it out. After going 0-of-4 from three against Saint Mary's, Sears is now 5-of-35 (14.3%) from three in the last five games. That's not going to get it done when Alabama needs to compete in what will likely be a shootout.
To his credit, Sears appears to still be confident in his shot and it is not preventing him from getting to the rim or finding open teammates. He has 13 assists in two NCAA Tournament games so far.
2. Alabama got the effort on the boards and defensively it needed
Saint Mary's is one of the best rebounding teams in the country and this game was always going to come down to how the Crimson Tide did on the glass. Alabama ended up +3 on the boards (39-36). The Gaels hit the offensive boards better in the second half and still ended up with 15 for the game, but Alabama gave strong effort.
Omoruyi and Nelson were both terrific. They combined for 18 rebounds with six combined offensive boards. Mo Diobuate gave Alabama great energy off the bench, as he usually does.
Alabama held Saint Mary's without a three-pointer in the first half and held them to 3-of-14 for the game and just 34% from the field overall, the lowest field-goal percentage output of the season for the Gaels.
This level of effort on the defensive end on the glass is what Alabama needs moving forward to have a shot at getting back to the Final Four.
1. Offensively, Alabama controlled the pace
Alabama had 71 offensive possessions in this game against a team that allows one of the lowest amount of possessions in the country. Saint Mary's could not keep up at that pace.
Turnovers were brutal for Alabama in the first half with the Tide giving it away nine times, but that was cleaned up in the second half. Alabama turned it over only twice in the second half.
Alabama scored 80 points on an elite defensive team, and one that hasn't allowed 80+ points in 105 games. They did that despite only hitting seven three pointers and with All-American guard Mark Sears going 5-of-15 from the floor.
If Sears can find his shot this offense jumps to another level. If he can do that and Alabama can bring the same kind of physicality defensively and on the glass, then this team is good enough to win it all.