The University of Alabama is a championship institution.
People elevate the football program, but Nate Oats has Crimson Tide men’s basketball in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Alabama earned the West Region title, defeating Charleston, Grand Canyon, top-seeded North Carolina, and Clemson to advance to Phoenix (Ariz.) for the Final Four. The basketball team embodied the “LANK” or Let All Naysayers Know mentality of the football team. No one thought Alabama would a run at the Final Four after losing impactful assistant coaches, including Antonie Pettway, and several marquee players from last year’s team. Oats has the Tide two victories away from capturing a NCAA Tournament Championship. Defensive players for the football team showed ultimate support for Alabama men’s basketball after Wednesday’s practice. Deontae Lawson and Tim Kennan III want basketball to beat UConn.
Lawson, a former four-star in the 2021 signing class, played basketball at Mobile (Ala.) Christian Academy.
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He compares his game to Tide point guard, Mark Sears, but he admits he can’t shoot like Sears.
Alabama LB Deontae Lawson compares his basketball skill set to PG Mark Sears of men’s basketball.
“I can’t shoot like him, but I like how Mark Sears shoots.”
Lawson says Alabama will beat UConn by 5 on Saturday.
“Free throws will win us the game.”@TDAlabamaMag pic.twitter.com/VGxwmiulfJ
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) April 3, 2024
“I was a pretty good basketball player in high school,” Lawson said with a smile.
“I went to a smaller high school so I played all the positions, but I like how Sears shoots. I like how he plays.”
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The redshirt junior linebacker did not give a score prediction, but Lawson revealed how he thinks Alabama will win.
“I can’t give you a score prediction, but I’ll say we will win by five points,” he said. “We will win by five plus, free throws will win us the game.”
Kennan, a Birmingham (Ala.) native, had one message for Alabama men’s basketball.
“You guys keep doing what y’all doing,” Kennan said to the basketball team.
“I am rooting for y’all, the state is rooting for y’all, and keep shooting the skin off the ball.”
Hopefully, the team takes to Kennan’s message and Lawson’s five-point victory prediction comes true.
Alabama plays Saturday against UConn in the Final Four.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
