NASHVILLE ― The SEC Match bracket was lining up completely for Alabama basketball.
Groups the Crimson Tide confirmed it might beat within the common season gained their video games Friday. Groups to whom Alabama had misplaced within the common season (Tennessee, Kentucky) misplaced their video games Friday and bowed out of the convention match.
If solely the Crimson Tide had gained its sport Friday. That was the half that did not go so completely.
Florida took management of the sport late within the first half and cruised to a victory, knocking Alabama out of the SEC Match quarterfinals with a 102-88 victory at Bridgestone Enviornment. The Gators gained two of three matchups with the Crimson Tide this season.
Listed below are observations and takeaways from the SEC Match quarterfinal sport between No. 3 seed Alabama (21-11) and No. 6 seed Florida (23-10).
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Alabama basketball begins scorching, then falls aside
Alabama could not have requested for a a lot better begin.
The Crimson Tide started the sport on a tear, scoring on 4 of its first 5 possessions. In the meantime, the protection introduced depth that stifled the Gators, who began 0-for-4. Alabama dominated on the glass early, and that translated to a quick lead. The Crimson Tide began in a means that impressed confidence in its skill to take it to Florida.
Or so it appeared.
The new begin cooled off. Alabama started to stumble offensively, discovering methods to not rating, whether or not due to turnovers, missed pictures or avoidable errors. Alabama faltering offensively bled over into protection. The Crimson Tide stopped getting stops, and the Gators went to work.
Florida ended the primary half on a 21-2 run over the ultimate 5:24 earlier than the break. Alabama went 1-for-10 earlier than heading into the locker room.
Halftime would not present enhance
Little that Alabama did after halftime appeared just like the stuff of comebacks.
The Crimson Tide did not come out of the locker room with renewed power, abruptly getting defensive stops and draining pictures. As a substitute, Alabama began 0-for-2 whereas Florida went 2-for-2.
Whereas these percentages modified for each side, that about summed up the way it went for the Crimson Tide because the second half progressed. Alabama could not catch sufficient of a scorching streak offensively with restricted success from past the arc for a lot of the half. In the meantime, Florida stored chipping away on the offensive finish and increasing its lead.
It shortly grew to become clear a comeback wasn’t going to be taking place. Alabama went on a small run towards the tip of the second half, however it was too little too late.
What’s subsequent?
Alabama’s journey to Nashville ends after just one sport. As a substitute of enjoying Saturday, the Crimson Tide will return to Tuscaloosa. Alabama will then be taught of its NCAA Match destiny on Sunday. The Crimson Tide has beforehand been projected as a No. 4 seed for March Insanity heading into the week.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat author for The Tuscaloosa Information, a part of the USA TODAY Community, and he covers Alabama soccer and males’s basketball. Attain him at nkelly@gannett.com or comply with him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app previously often known as Twitter.