The Alabama Crimson Tide had to overcome some early turbulence, including the absence of guard Aden Holloway and a few questionable calls, to secure a win against 13-seed Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Despite these challenges, the 4th-seeded Tide maintained control throughout the game, finally pulling away with a decisive 19-5 run in the last five minutes to seal a 20-point victory. Up next, Alabama faces a tougher opponent in 5th-seeded Texas Tech, and they'll need to bring their A-game from the start.
Alabama enters as a slight -1.5 point favorite over the Red Raiders according to FanDuel, with an over/under set at 164.5. This margin suggests a closely contested battle when they meet on Sunday at 8:45pm CT.
Texas Tech (23-10)
Texas Tech's opening game mirrored Alabama's in some ways. They led 12-seed Akron by five at halftime and extended their lead with a strong finish, outscoring the Zips 22-7 to win by 20.
However, the Red Raiders are also dealing with the loss of a key player. Unlike Holloway, their absent star is JT Toppin, a consensus second-team All-American forward, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
Toppin was a powerhouse, averaging 21.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game.
After Toppin's injury, Tech faced a rollercoaster of results, including a big win over Iowa State but ending the regular season with three straight losses to fellow tournament teams TCU, BYU, and Iowa State.
In Toppin’s absence, Donovan Atwell, Christian Anderson, and LeJuan Watts have stepped up, but the question remains: which version of Texas Tech will show up on Sunday?
Alabama (24-9)
Alabama's path to the tournament included a thrilling double-overtime victory over Arkansas, followed by wins against LSU and Mississippi State, and a revenge win over Tennessee. However, they stumbled against Georgia before bouncing back to defeat Auburn. Their SEC Tournament run was short-lived, but they made a strong start in the NCAA Tournament against Hofstra.
Even without Holloway, Alabama remains the nation's top scoring team, averaging 91.7 points per game, compared to Texas Tech's 80.7. Defensively, the Tide allows 70.1 points per game, slightly better than the Red Raiders' 72.6.
The key for Alabama will be maintaining intensity and defensive focus. Head Coach Nate Oats will need to rally his team to ensure they bring their best effort from the opening tip.
Keep an eye on the odds, as they might shift leading up to Sunday's clash. For the latest updates, FanDuel is the place to watch.