Alabama coach Nate Oats threw two fists into the air before the final buzzer sounded Saturday. And then, the mosh pit began.
Alabama, for the first time in program history, is headed to the Final Four.
The No. 4 Crimson Tide outlasted No. 6 Clemson 89-82 on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Oats — in only his fifth season as head coach — having officially lifted the tide of what should be expected from Alabama men’s basketball.
Oats has made four straight NCAA Tournaments and two previous Sweet 16s, won two SEC regular-season and tournament championships … but none of it touches what his current squad has accomplished.
By upsetting No. 1 North Carolina in the Sweet 16, and then beating Clemson in a rematch from late November, Alabama will officially face No. 1 Connecticut in Phoenix next Saturday.
On Sunday, Purdue defeated Tennessee, 72-66, send the Boilermakers to the Final Four for the first time since 1980.
Later in the day, North Carolina State defeated Duke 76-64.
North Carolina will play Purdue on Saturday.
