NCAA Basketball: Ranking the 2021 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 teams
By Adam Childs
4. Alabama Crimson Tide
Alabama and Michigan could easily be flipped, and if we are all lucky we will get to see them battle it out on the court with a Final Four berth on the line.
The Crimson Tide are playing as well as anybody in the country right now, but they are very reliant on the three-ball. It is easy to be reliant on it, though, when you shoot it as well as they do. They have hit 10 or more threes in over half their games this year and can flat out get scorching hot.
The problem for other teams is they have multiple guys that can get hot. If they play Michigan in the Elite Eight it will be a fascinating matchup as the Wolverines are one of the best in the country at defending the outside shot.
Alabama is great in transition too, but if UCLA can slow the game down they have a shot. You must beat the Tide in the half court and not let them get open shots. If they can’t do that then the Tide will roll.
3. Michigan Wolverines
Michigan came into this tournament with a lot of question marks. They hadn’t been playing well and they lost one of their best players in Isaiah LIvers right before the tournament. LSU presented a big challenge for the Wolverines but they answered every call and came away with a huge win.
They have another tough matchup with Florida State and could face the Crimson Tide in the Elite Eight. The Wolverines will have to earn it if they make another Final Four, but until someone dethrones them in the region they get the top spot.
They are still a very dangerous team that is as deep as anyone in the tournament. If they can play defense like they did late against LSU and hit their shots they can continue their run.