Tide/Tigers continue their pursuit of the Final Four today and Sunday
Alabama and Auburn continued their stellar play Thursday and Friday Night respectively as both teams inched closer to the Alamodome and San Antonio for the Final Four, which would be the second Final Four for both teams and both coaches as Bruce Pearl took his team there in 2019 and barely missed out on a shot at the national championship due to a missed double dribble call on Virginia’s Ty Jerome with seconds winding down in regulation in the semifinals. After Jerome double dribbled with 7 seconds left, he took dribbled down the floor and tossed it to Kyle Guy in the left corner and Guy shot a potential game tying three which he missed. However the Tigers were called for a foul on Guy’s shot, which was also controversial. Guy sank all three free throws and Virginia won the game in overtime and went on to capture the national championship the following Monday over Texas Tech. Tough one for Bruce and the 2019 Tigers. However, they have another shot in 2025. Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide made it to the Final Four last year only to fall to unstoppable UConn in the semis. UConn went on to win it all and win back to back national titles in 2023 and 2024.
Now both Alabama and Auburn face major tests as they home in on advancing to the arena all 352 schools in Division I aspired to be at in November; the Alamodome in San Antonio sire of the 2025 Final Four, which commences next Saturday, April, 5th on CBS with game times to be determined. Most likely a 5:09 P.M. CT tip and a 7:49 P.M. CT tip.
Here are previews and predictions for the Elite Eight games today and Sunday.
White’s World’s 2024 Sweet 16 through Championship Records
SU: 11-4; ATS: 11-4
This Postseason, 2025: Sweet 16 record:
SU: 7-1; ATS: 5-3; O/U: 6-2
Overall 2025 record including the SEC Tournament
SU: 15-7; ATS: 12-9; O/U: 9-7
Today’s Games
West Regional Final
No.3 seed Texas Tech (28-8) vs. No. 1 Florida (33-4)
Chase Center, SF, CA. 18,064
5:09 P.M. Central Time
TBS/truTV
Kevin Harlan, Dan Bonner, Stan Van Gundy, Lauren Shehadi, Gene Steratore-Rules
Gators by 6 1/2, O/U, 157 1/2
I like the Gators to show the country once again what a prolific team they have led by their stellar guards, Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard, and big men Alex Condon, Reuben Chinyelu and Thomas Hough.
Florida 83, Texas Tech 75
East Regional Final
No. 2 Alabama (28-8) vs. No.1 Duke (34-3)
Prudential Center, Newark, 16,755
7:49 P.M. CT
TBS/truTV
Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce, Gene (rules analyst throughout).
Duke by 7 1/2; O/U 174 1/2
Nate Oats had a premonition for his backcourt on Thursday at the Prudential Center in Newark telling Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Chris Youngblood and Aiden Holloway before the game that, “We’re going to rain threes.” Coach Oats was a prophet. The Tide drained trifectas to the tune of 25-of-51, 49%, the most made threes in NCAA Tournament history surpassing Loyola Marymount’s 21 in 1990 against Michigan. Mark and Aiden were knocking down threes from Yankee Stadium; Mark to the tune of 34 points on 10-of-16 from triple, and Aiden to the tune of 23 on 6-of-13 from deep downtown. Youngblood added 19 on 5-of-11 from three. Mercy, what a performance by those guys. Now the Tide faces the vaunted Blue Devils and player of the year candidate, along with Auburn’s Johni Broome, and soon to be first overall pick in the NBA draft (most likely) Cooper Flagg. Can the 2025 version of the Crimson Tide repeat and make it back to the Final Four? I like them to do that.
Alabama 94, Duke 92
Sunday’s Games
Midwest Regional Final
No.2 Tennessee (30-7) vs. No.1 Houston (33-4)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indy, 35,000
1:20 P.M. CT
CBS
Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas, Evan Washburn, Gene
Houston by 3 1/2; O/U: 124 1/2
Looking for a hard fought, hard-nosed game, with stellar point guard Zakai Zeigler and the Vols outlasting the Cougars.
Tennessee 62, Houston 61
South Region
No.1 Auburn (31-5) vs. No.2 Michigan State (30-6)
State Farm Arena, ATL, 17,044
4:09 P.M. CT
CBS
Ian, Bill, Grant, Trace, Gene
Auburn by 4 1/2; O/U: 147 1/2
The Tigers had a sluggish start in the first half last night versus Michigan, but rallied in the second half with a 20-2 run to defeat the Wolverines, 78-65. Johni Broome finished with 22 points and 16 boards, a huge night. Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones added 20. Jones was 4-of-7 from triple, while Pettiford was 2-of-7. Auburn was 8-of-28 from three on the night. But they out-rebounded the Wolverines 48-33, held the Wolverines to 21-of-59 from the field, 36%, and 5-of-17 from trifecta, 29%. The Tigers were also 14 of 18 from the stripe, 78%. They really amped it up in the second half. In Michigan State, Auburn plays a similar hard hat, lunch pale team that plays terrific defense, hits the boards and can be prolific from three when they’re on. But I’ll take Johni and the Tigers to punch their ticket to San Antonio.
Auburn 75, Michigan State 72
