No. 5/5 Alabama’s Week One in the NCAA Tournament Bubble
3/18/2021 7:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Crimson Tide continues its game preparation for Saturday’s NCAA Tournament opener vs. Iona
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 5/5 Alabama men’s basketball team has been in the 2021 NCAA Tournament bubble since Sunday night as it continues its preparation ahead of the tournament opener vs. Iona Saturday afternoon. The No. 2-seed Crimson Tide, who also received the tournament’s No. 5 overall seed, and No. 15 seed Gaels will tipoff at 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET) inside Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University.
Alabama cleared its 24-hour quarantine Monday night and was able to get the team’s first full workout in Indianapolis Tuesday. The Crimson Tide worked in the weight room for an hour followed by a full practice, both of which took place in the Indianapolis Convention Center. The 566,000-square foot space is home to 12 practice courts and a number of weight rooms. It is the central hub of this year’s event.
#NCAABasketball Day 1?? is in the books ??#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/dSU7ZNzwQ3
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) March 17, 2021
The hotel where the Crimson Tide is housed is one of four that is connected to the convention center via skywalks, so the team never has to step foot outside during the week unless traveling to a venue for a game. The team has a dedicated hotel floor in which each player, coach and staff member from the 34-person travel party has a room to themselves.
When not spending time on the basketball courts , UA stays focused in the classroom, spending several hours a day on academics which has helped the players catch up from a busy spring semester.
On Wednesday, Alabama was able to spend some time at Victory Field, the home ball park of the Indianapolis Indians AAA team while also taking a team photo in front of the massive tournament bracket hanging outside the JW Marriott Hotel.
After another practice and workout day on Wednesday, Alabama was able to practice at Saturday’s venue – Hinkle Fieldhouse – on Thursday. The Crimson Tide had a full practice that lasted approximately 90 minutes on the game floor.
The squad at @HinkleFH ?? ???#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/FTUWoGzeoD
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) March 18, 2021
?? #RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/coZGkSkfit
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) March 18, 2021
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