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The road to the Final Four continues with two heavyweight battles in the Elite 8. Duke and Alabama bring firepower in the East Region, while Florida and Texas Tech face off in a contrasting clash of depth vs. resilience in the West. Here’s what to expect from both matchups on Saturday, March 29.
Tip-off: 8:49 PM ET | Network: TBS
Duke and Alabama each put on an offensive clinic in the Sweet 16, both crossing the 100-point mark. Alabama shattered a tournament record with 25 made three-pointers, led by Mark Sears’ 34-point explosion and 10 triples. Aden Holloway and Chris Youngblood combined for another 11 from deep, helping Alabama post 113 points against BYU in a game that looked more like an NBA shootout.
Duke, meanwhile, handled Arizona’s offensive firepower, outlasting the Wildcats 100-93 despite Caleb Love’s 35-point effort. Cooper Flagg continued to affirm why he is the No. 1 draft selection, stuffing the stat sheet with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Duke also got big-time performances from Kon Knueppel (20 points) and senior leader Sion James (16 points), proving that this team is more than just Flagg.
Alabama thrives on a high-volume, three-point-heavy attack, but Duke’s defensive metrics suggest some regression could be coming. The Blue Devils hold opponents to just 31% shooting from deep, while Alabama’s season average sits at 35% – meaning their red-hot shooting last round could cool off. Duke also boasts the nation’s second-best two-point defense and ranks 17th in limiting free-throw attempts. If Alabama isn’t getting easy points at the line, they may struggle to find consistency.
Expect a fast-paced, high-scoring game, but Duke’s ability to score inside and control the glass could be the difference. With Alabama launching threes all game in a fast-paced affair, a quick, athletic 6’9” forward like Cooper Flagg should be in prime position to haul in long rebounds.
Tip-off: 6:09 PM ET | Network: TBS
Florida’s depth has been its biggest asset in March Madness, and that was on full display in their 87-71 win over Maryland. Despite 17 turnovers, the Gators dominated the glass, doubling Maryland in rebounds (42-20) and winning the paint battle. Even with Alex Condon missing significant time due to an ankle injury, Florida had six players score in double figures, led by Will Richard’s 15-point performance.
On the other hand, Texas Tech pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks of the tournament. Down 16 points with 7 minutes left, the Red Raiders stormed back to stun Arkansas in overtime. Christian Anderson, Darrion Williams and JT Toppin all dropped 20+ points, proving that this squad never quits. The concern? Tech runs a seven-man rotation, and their starters just played heavy minutes in a physically draining win.
Tech’s offensive system relies on heavy pick-and-roll action, but Florida’s ability to contest threes and protect the paint presents a tough challenge. The Gators rotate multiple defenders on Toppin, an All-American big man who averages 17.3 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. He’s had 17 double-doubles this season, including two in the tournament, and was one rebound shy of another against Arkansas.
Florida has yet to put together a full 40-minute performance, and if they do, it could spell trouble for a tired Texas Tech squad. Expect Tech to hang tough early, but Florida’s depth should wear them down late.
Zach has been a published sports writer since 2018 specializing in college football & basketball, MLB and NFL content for multiple publications.