The photo comes from the SEC media portal
The University of Alabama is a championship institution.
People elevate the football program, but Nate Oats got Crimson Tide men’s basketball into the Final Four of the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Alabama won the West Region title by 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 advance to the Final Four after losing influential assistant coaches, including Antonie Pettway, and several marquee players from last year’s team. Oats has the Tide two wins away from winning an NCAA tournament championship. The football team’s defensive players showed their ultimate support for Alabama men’s basketball after practice Wednesday. 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.
He compares his game to that of Tide point guard Mark Sears, but admits he can’t shoot like Sears.
Alabama LB Deontae Lawson compares his basketball skills to men’s basketball PG Mark Sears.
“I can’t shoot like him, but I like the way 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 really good basketball player in high school,” Lawson said with a smile.
“I went to a smaller high school, so I played every position, but I like the way Sears shoots. I like the way he plays.
The redshirt junior linebacker didn’t give a score prediction, but Lawson revealed how he thinks Alabama will win.
“I can’t give you a score prediction, but I will say we will win by five points,” he said. “We will win by five, free throws will win us the game.”
Kennan, a Birmingham, Ala., native, had a message for Alabama men’s basketball.
“You keep doing what you’re doing,” Kennan told the basketball team.
“I support you all, the state supports you all and keep shooting the ball.”
Hopefully the team gets 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 editor of Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can like it on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
