San Diego State ousts top overall seed Alabama to reach Elite Eight

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — No. 1 overall seed Alabama, which emerged as the most dominant and divisive team during a turbulent 2022-23 season, sputtered offensively and found an exit from the NCAA tournament on Friday night.

The Crimson Tide fluctuated between careless and reckless in a sloppy 71-64 loss to No. 5 seed San Diego State, as they finished the night with 14 turnovers and shot just 3 for 27 from 3-point range.

San Diego State clinched the program's first berth in the Elite Eight, led by Darrion Trammell's 21 points and an unflinching defensive resolve that ground Alabama's dreams of a first Final Four appearance into a puddle of frustration and missed shots.

«Everybody is really disappointed in the loss,» Alabama coach Nate Oats said. «It ended too soon.»

The Aztecs have remained a consistent NCAA tournament team during coach Brian Dutcher's six seasons, and they suffocated Alabama's offense by holding the Crimson Tide to 32.4% overall shooting. The program, which consistently bellows the defiant chant of «I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN,» executed that belief through stretches of tough offense and a nine-point second-half deficit.

«I'm using Muhammad Ali quotes because we're in Louisville, and we talked about confidence and the key to confidence is being fearless,» Dutcher said. «I thought we were fearless tonight.»

Alabama star forward Brandon Miller, a projected top-five NBA draft pick, will likely end his college career with a dismal 3-for-19 shooting night in which he took more than 12 minutes to score his first basket. He shot a combined 8 for 41 in Alabama's three NCAA tournament games.

For Alabama, the loss marks the third consecutive tournament in which the Tide have suffered a significant upset, falling to No. 11