BREAKING NEWS: Forecast for Alabama versus Charleston: NCAA Tournament First Round Preview

Charleston, seeded 13th and ranked 51st in the CFN rankings, brings an offense that thrives on three-point shooting, averaging over 80 points per game by making more than ten threes per game. Alabama, on the other hand, known for its defensive prowess in football, leads the nation in scoring, also making over 11 threes per game by attempting 30.3 threes per game.

Alabama’s strength lies in its ability to execute better, having faced tougher competition in the SEC compared to Charleston’s victories against teams like William & Mary, Hofstra, and Campbell. Despite Alabama’s tendency to give up a high number of three-pointers and commit fouls, Charleston’s offensive strategy heavily reliant on three-pointers might not exploit this weakness effectively.

However, considering recent performances and the unpredictability of SEC teams in the tournament, caution is warranted. Alabama enters the game having lost four of its last six, and its vulnerability to teams that excel in three-point shooting has been evident. Charleston’s consistency in hitting threes could pose a significant challenge, with Alabama only winning 3 out of 8 games where opponents made ten or more threes. In contrast, Charleston boasts a 20-2 record when making at least nine threes.

Ultimately, Alabama is favored to win, but the game is likely to be closely contested and full of drama, reminiscent of Virginia’s low-scoring basketball games during the season.