Nate Oats' Crimson Tide Show Muscle In Elite-8 Win Over Clemson, Booking First-Ever Trip To Final Four

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — This tournament could end in a loss for Alabama and fans still have reason to consider the 2024 squad a success. 

But let's not worry about that just yet — the Crimson Tide are still dancing. Fueled by relentless three-point shooting and a will to out-muscle the Clemson Tigers, Alabama basketball made history in its second-ever trip to the Elite 8 on Saturday, beating the Tigers with an 89-82 victory, taking the West Regional championship.

The Elite 8 matchup was their second appearance ever.

Next Saturday's Final Four appearance will be the program's first.

For all their hype amassed from a major upset against Arizona, Clemson flatlined with poor effort and focus against Alabama. 

Tenacious three-point shooting by Alabama buried the Tigers in the second half. Tide freshman guard Jarin Stevenson became the unexpected hero of the night. Bama's "next man up" scenarios have been their strength throughout March as they battle through injuries.

This Bama offense proved once again that it's got more than one dimension or a plan for every scenario.

Thursday's Sweet 16 win at Crypto.com Arena against UNC had the atmosphere of a home game for the Tar Heels.

Saturday's game, coming off Alabama's impressive win, had an aura that skewed toward Alabama, confirmed by the berserk crowd once they beat Clemson.

"Roll Tides" rained down among the 20,000 people in attendance. 

Aaron Estrada was the guy on Thursday with 19 points. 

Jarin Stevenson's 19 points off the bench was the second-most total from the Tide, behind Mark Sears' 23 points, compiled with an incredible 7-of-14 from long range.

Had anyone mentioned prior to the game that Grant Nelson could be the only Alabama starter held to a single-digit point total against Clemson, they'd likely get scoffed out of the building, onto the I-110, through the I-105 and all the way down the 405 freeway until they hit San Diego.

Nelson scored eight points while Sears and the other starters tallied doubt digits, showing off Nate Oats' mind for scheming and the "strength in numbers" approach on offense by Bama.

Overcoming a slow start on offense, Bama took a 35-32 advantage at halftime.

Bama appeared firmly in control of the win from early into the second half till the final moments. 

In every instance in the second half when Bama appeared to loosen their grip on a lead, a three-pointer by the Tide pushed through nylon, putting Bama back up in a statement way. 

Many of those made three-pointers came from Sears.

Being Alabama, a marquee program in a marquee conference, the win still had excitement naturally built into it. 

The Tide fans, at home or in L.A., had two solid reasons for celebration coming off the win: 

(A) Witnessing the first-ever win to reach a semifinal.

(B) This winning Tide team played like a title team.

Alabama's win over Clemson proved that the Tide not only possess strength in the X's and O's of winning on their side, but they also use a motivated group of guys, whose cohesion makes them as good as anyone.

Nate Oats and the Tide had to make the right adjustments at halftime against UNC to escape with a win.

Against Clemson, Alabama kept steady pressure on the gas, cruising to victory.

Thursday's Tide win over UNC was a thriller till the final second. I was locked in on the action, start to end.

On Saturday, my eyes shifted off the court in the closing moments. 

I fell into the spectacle of standing on the court at Crypto.com Arena in the final two minutes of an Alabama win; blinded by the albedo of the court; listening to raging Crimson Tide fans make the walk to the exits extra painful for traveling Clemson fans; sometimes thinking of the hot dog vendors outside. 

All that to say, these two wins in L.A. have been uniquely entertaining in their respective ways. 

After the Clemson win, Tide players yelled "HISTORY" as they received the West Regional final trophy and some even toyed with names for an ‘eventual’ 30-for-30 documentary on their team.

Thursday's unexpected hero and Crimson Tide guard Aaron Estrada highlighted the adversity his team faced heading into Saturday.

Estrada answered OutKick's query about having the haters as his main motivators. He mentioned a ‘cut’ (highlight reel) that floated around social media, spewing anti-Bama propaganda heading into the Clemson game.

With more swagger under their belts, Crimson Tide players sounded eager to add more material to the Bama history books throughout their celebrations on Saturday. 

Winning over Charleston and Grand Canyon created little hype for the Crimson Tide.

Now beating UNC and Clemson — Bama is for real. 

Yes, the "football program." 

Crimson Tide basketball may be the new perennially elite program. Does that sound like a team bothered by the thought of Dan Hurley's UConn?

Alabama's likeliest demise against UConn comes from the three-point line, the ‘live and die by the three-point line’ adage. 

The Tide may need another 5-of-8 three-point shooting night from Jarin Stevenson, or their next man up, to beat UConn. 

Oats and company head to Phoenix for an April 6 matchup against the Huskies. 

The coach holds the championship belt, for now.

Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

Send a message: alejandro.avila@outkick.com