Smiling Alabama basketball gamers and employees gathered at mid-court after Thursday afternoon’s follow, trying as much as a photographer within the steep seating bowl of Viejas Area.

How the staff captured within the photograph will likely be remembered in this system’s historical past will likely be difficult, however Friday’s sport towards Notre Dame will go a great distance in figuring out its legacy.

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Will the 2021-22 model of the Tide be generally known as the staff that teased its potential by beating three of the most effective opponents within the nation, solely to lose its last 4 video games and be upset within the first spherical of the NCAA event? Or will or not it’s regarded again upon as an inconsistent however succesful group that pulled issues collectively to win when it counted essentially the most?

That query will linger one other day till the three:15 p.m. CT tip off of Alabama’s first-round sport, however on Thursday, Alabama gamers appeared content material with the place their season had introduced them — the varsity’s first consecutive NCAA event appearances since 2005-06.

“I don’t assume we now have an excessive amount of to show,” guard Jaden Shackelford stated. “I believe it comes with how your season went. And we’re going on the market with a recent mindset to go play our hardest. I don’t really feel we essentially have something to show, however we’ve bought to go on the market and show to ourselves that we are able to exit play for 40 minutes, play laborious and provides our greatest effort.”

Added guard Keon Ellis: “Everybody is aware of what we now have carried out this yr. However all that’s prior to now and we’ve bought to return out and show it once more within the March Insanity event.”

Everybody is aware of what Alabama did in beating Gonzaga, Houston and Baylor earlier this season. But losses to Texas A&M and LSU, then Vanderbilt within the SEC event, had been tacked on to much more puzzling defeats at Georgia and Missouri to the résumé of ‘a really beatable staff,’ as Vandy’s Scotty Pippen, Jr. known as Alabama earlier than his staff knocked off the higher-seeded Tide in final week’s SEC event.

After Notre Dame edged Rutgers within the last two seconds of double extra time early Thursday morning, Irish guard Cormac Ryan was requested for his “preliminary ideas” about dealing with Alabama.

“Can’t wait,” Ryan merely responded in a second that had all of the aptitude of a microphone drop.

Oats gave Ryan the good thing about the doubt that he was expressing extra his pleasure to advance within the event than his eagerness to satisfy Alabama, however Oats acknowledged that Pippen’s assertion was direct — and his gamers in the end didn’t show Pippen fallacious.

“If it’s one thing the place they wished Alabama, then our guys can use it for a little bit additional motivation, that’s fantastic,” Oats stated Thursday. “However on the finish of the day, Pippen’s statements could have motivated our guys extra. We nonetheless should exit and play the suitable approach and win the sport. Our children performed laborious, however we didn’t play very sensible. We fouled them rather a lot. Put them to the free-throw line, and it’s not good basketball.”

Completely different issues have ailed Alabama over its 13 losses this season, that are the second-most within the NCAA event to 14 by Michigan, which upset Colorado State on Thursday to advance to the second spherical. But when Alabama introduced alongside to San Diego a turnover-prone and streaky-shooting offense — or a lax protection that has irritated Oats this season — then Alabama’s season may finish as the newest No. 6 seed to be toppled by a No. 11 seed.

In what is probably going a mirrored image of Alabama’a inconsistency and up to date struggles, there may be little buzz in regards to the Tide making a deep run within the NCAA event, even when it might get previous Notre Dame on Friday. Common odds for Alabama to win the nationwide championship are +13125, per VegasInsider, or longer odds than Saint Mary’s of the West Coast Convention or LSU, which enters the event with out fired coach Will Wade.

However Alabama continues to be a four-point favourite to beat Notre Dame and was picked to win on 71.1 p.c of ESPN’s fan brackets, lots of which had been doubtless solid earlier than Alabama’s opponent was determined between the Irish and Rutgers.

“There’s a very good staff,” Oats stated of Notre Dame. “To beat Rutgers final night time, Rutgers is hard. If you happen to take a look at all of the wins Rutgers had center of the season, finish of the season, for them to beat Rutgers in a sport like that confirmed you ways robust they’re.

“They don’t flip the ball over. That they had 5 turnovers final night time. We haven’t been a staff that turns individuals over a lot anyway. Some groups handed us just a few extra; most groups turned it over greater than 5 groups.

“However we do should attempt to make them a little bit uncomfortable. The problem is they’re sensible and deal with it and in the event you get overly aggressive towards them, they are going to make you pay, return door or no matter. We don’t wish to give them open pictures. They don’t miss too many open pictures both. However they’re a high-IQ, actually proficient offensive group.

“On the defensive finish they don’t foul a lot. They’re sensible that approach. They usually type of preserve you in entrance. They’re one of many higher groups within the nation at forcing you into lengthy 2s. We’re one of many higher groups within the nation at not taking too many mid-range pictures. It’s going to be a battle on that deal. Can we get to the rim? Can we get 3s off towards the way in which they play?”

Notre Dame’s play-in sport in Dayton, Ohio didn’t finish till after midnight Thursday. After flying 5 hours, the Irish will follow Thursday night in San Diego earlier than Friday afternoon’s sport.

“They’re not fairly as deep as we’re, and so they’re coming off having to play Wednesday after which Friday,” Oats stated. “Hopefully we are able to get into their depth a little bit bit. However they management tempo fairly nicely, too, and don’t play notably quick. I’m positive they’ll attempt to do this once more tomorrow.”

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Comply with him on Twitter @mikerodak.