Alabama may have celebrated its inclusion in the 68-team field for the NCAA tournament, but a look at what it faces may temper the joy just a bit.
As the No. 9 seed in the Midwest region, the 21-11 Crimson Tide was matched against a tough No. 8 seed in Creighton. Creighton is 28-5 after winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
If that is not enough, the Blue Jays feature one of the top scorers in the country in sophomore forward Doug McDermott, who averaged over 23 points and eight rebounds a game.
Whoever comes out of their game in Greensboro on March 16 likely will be facing the region's No. 1 seed, North Carolina, in the next game.
Nevertheless, just getting into the tourney has to be an accomplishment considering the injuries and suspension issues the Tide had to battle throughout the year, particularly in February.
The Tide lost its No. 2 scorer and rebounder for the season when Tony Mitchell was suspended, and was without its No. 1 man in both categories when JaMychal Green was suspended for four games.
Green also dealt with injuries early in the season.
"I'm really happy for JaMychal Green as a senior," coach Anthohy Grant said, "to have a chance to experience the NCAA Tournament and a chance to continue his career as long as we can continue to win."
NOTES, QUOTES
-The last time Alabama played in the NCAA Tournament it beat Marquette in a first-round game in 2006 before losing to UCLA in the second round. The deepest run the Tide has made in the event was in 2004, when it made it to a regional final before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut.
-Talk about contrasting styles. Alabama will go into the NCAA Tournament shooting only 28.5 percent from 3-point range. Creighton was one of the national leaders with its 42.5 mark.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
SCOUTING REPORT: Senior F JaMychal Green missed four games while suspended and has recorded double-doubles in three of the five games he has played since his return. He has to play big for the Tide to advance. Sophomore G Trevor Releford runs the show and can score on drives to the basket. Bama doesn't have anyone who can hit from 3-point range with any consistency, but sophomore G/F Charles Hankerson has come off the bench to pop a few on occasion.
FUTURES WATCH: Sophomore Moussa Gueye has taken a nearly permanent seat on the bench lately after getting a couple of starts because of suspensions, but it could be interesting to see how he improves from this season to the next. At 7-0, he could be a valuable asset inside because of the departure of Green, but he needs the time to mature. He was considered a top junior college prospect but didn't play at Lake Land College in Matoon, Ill., because of injury.
REGULAR SEASON REVIEW: Suspensions nearly derailed Alabama's season in February. The Tide lost Green for four games and F Tony Mitchell, the No. 2 scorer and rebounder, for the season. Andrew Steele and Trevor Releford also missed a game. The Tide managed to survive those problems and won four of its final five games to enhance its postseason credentials.
ROSTER REPORT
-Freshman G Trevor Lacey has been playing with a sore ankle since spraining it at Arkansas on Feb. 23, but he played 17 minutes and scored 12 points in the Tide's SEC tourney win over South Carolina and 28 minutes, scoring 11 points, the next day in the loss to Florida.
-Sophomore G Trevor Releford was charged with only one turnover while playing a total of 72 minutes in Bama's two SEC tourney games.
-Senior F JaMychal had a combined 34 points and 17 rebounds in the SEC tourney.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"This was a goal we set at the beginning of this season -- to put ourselves in a position where we would could play in this tournament at the end of this year." -- Coach Anthony Grant, on the Tide's at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
