Alabama basketball goes down to UConn in Final Four, but not without a fight

GLENDALE, Ariz. − Alabama basketball battled against mighty UConn on the biggest stage. But the Crimson Tide couldn't find a way to pull off the improbable upset.

The Crimson Tide hit big shots and made big plays and didn’t back down for much of the game. But in the end, it wasn't enough. The Huskies just proved to be too much.

No. 1 seed UConn took control late in the second half to push past No. 4 seed Alabama 86-72 on Saturday in the Final Four at State Farm Stadium. The Crimson Tide's season comes to an end after Alabama's first Final Four appearance in program history.

Here are observations and takeaways from the game between No. 4 seed Alabama (25-12) and No. 1 seed UConn (36-3).

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Alabama basketball hits triples to stay with UConn in first half

If Alabama was going to have any shot of competing with UConn, the Crimson Tide was almost certainly going to have to drain 3-pointers. The Huskies, with Donovan Clingan protecting the rim, were going to be too stout around the rim for Alabama to rely heavily on layups.

So the Crimson Tide knocked down triples. And it started from darn near tipoff. Grant Nelson hit one before a minute had even passed in the game, and Alabama rolled from deep from there. By halftime, the Crimson Tide had made eight 3-pointers, with 14 total field-goal makes.

Five different players made them, too, from Nelson and Mark Sears to Rylan Griffen, Latrell Wrightsell and Aaron Estrada.

That led to a back-and-forth game with UConn in the first half with both teams trading blows. And the triples not only prevented the Huskies from pulling away, but Alabama even held a lead of five points about midway through the first half.

Turnovers got in the Crimson Tide's way at times, though. Alabama had five of them before the break compared to UConn's two. Meanwhile, the Huskies scored 11 points from the free-throw line in the first half to Alabama's four, and that was the difference maker as UConn held a 44-40 lead going into the break.

UConn pulls away from Alabama as second half progresses

The battle continued early in the second half.

After the break, Alabama and UConn traded 7-0 runs like a volley in a tennis match. Alabama had one. UConn had one. Then Alabama had one. Nelson was key in the second run for Alabama, dunking over Clingan then making a jumper.

A second jumper from Nelson tied the game at 56 with 12:41 left. Then UConn started to cook. An 11-2 run put the Huskies up by nine with 8:22 to go.

Alabama couldn't find a way to come back from that run, not getting enough shots to land late. Then UConn pulled away late to advance to the national championship game.

What's next for Alabama basketball?

Alabama's season comes to a close, and the attention will immediately turn to the offseason. Aaron Estrada is the only player who has exhausted his eligibility. All other players can return, but the Crimson Tide won't have enough open scholarships with the new players set to join the team. So some will have to leave, whether it be via the transfer portal or to the NBA Draft.

Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.