How Alabama Can Upset North Carolina: 5 Keys to Victory

Win the coaching battle

Entering each matchup, one of the most critical factors for these battles is how each team prepares before the game and adjusts in the game. With two of the better coaches in the NCAA going toe-to-toe in Alabama’s Nate Oats and UNC’s Hubert Davis, the coaching battle will be just as vital as the on-court matchups. Whichever coach can put together the best game plan and put their team in the best position to execute will likely lead their team to an elite eight appearance.

Get Mark Sears going early

Mark Sears has been the go-to guy for the Crimson Tide all year. Carrying the scoring load, the six-foot-one guard has been the leading factor in Alabama finding its way to the Sweet 16. Sears is averaging 28 points, eight rebounds, and 5.5 assists through the first two games. If Bama can get their star guard involved early, it will bode well to go against an explosive UNC offense.

Contain RJ Davis

Like Mark Sears, RJ Davis has been the driving force behind UNC’s success up to this point. The senior has proven to be a gifted scorer and an all-around threat on the floor. And while North Carolina certainly has talent all over the floor, the team goes as their star player goes. If Alabama can find a way to contain Davis, it will put more stress on the No. 1 seed’s supporting players.

Play through Aaron Estrada

Aaron Estrada may not be having the scoring season that his running mate in the backcourt has, but the versatile guard has made an impact as a playmaker in Alabama’s offense. Providing the Crimson Tide with all-around minutes, he is a massive part of what the team has built in Tuscaloosa. With the offense being run through Estrada often, he tends to make the right decisions and put his teammates in a position to succeed. If he can do just that on Thursday, Alabama will threaten to upset UNC, especially if Estrada finds a way to add scoring to the mix that he’s shown flashes of in the past.

Restrict Bacot from the boards

Armando Bacot has been one of the best big men in the nation all season long. Not only can Bacot make an opposing defense pay in the post, but he is also a monster on the glass. And through the first two games, he’s proven to be just that, averaging 11 rebounds per game. If the Crimson Tide hope to have a chance to upset the Tar Heels, they’ll need to limit Bacot’s production on the boards. If they can do that, they limit the risk of UNC earning second-chance opportunities. 

Win the coaching battle

Entering each matchup, one of the most critical factors for these battles is how each team prepares before the game and adjusts in the game. With two of the better coaches in the NCAA going toe-to-toe in Alabama’s Nate Oats and UNC’s Hubert Davis, the coaching battle will be just as vital as the on-court matchups. Whichever coach can put together the best game plan and put their team in the best position to execute will likely lead their team to an elite eight appearance.