Clemson basketball vs. Alabama in NCAA Elite Eight: How to watch, top storylines

Clemson men’s basketball is one win away from history.

The No. 6 seed Tigers are set to play No. 4 Alabama in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight round on Saturday night (8:49 p.m., TBS/truTV) in Los Angeles.

If Clemson can win a fourth straight game as a betting underdog, it’ll qualify for the Final Four for the first time ever.

Here’s how to watch and what to know.

Clemson MBB vs. Alabama game info

• Who: No. 6 seed Clemson (24-11) vs. No. 4 seed Alabama (24-11)

• Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles

• When: 8:49 p.m. Saturday

• TV: TBS/truTV (Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce)

• Radio: 105.5 FM locally (see full list of affiliates here)

• Stream: Via TBS.com or truTV.com

• Betting line: Alabama by 2.5 points (VegasInsider)

• Next up: The winner of Clemson-Alabama will advance to the NCAA Final Four in the Phoenix, Arizona area and play its first game next Saturday (April 6)

Tigers can hang with ‘anybody’

On Feb. 3, after Clemson lost at home to Virginia and dropped to 4-6 in the ACC, coach Brad Brownell told his players something he’d only told one other team during his 14 years at the school.

“We’re good enough to make a Final Four.”

That assertion (which Brownell also told his 2018 team, which reached the Sweet 16) looks pretty good right about now. After flirting with excellence in non-conference play and finishing 11-9 during an up-and-down run of ACC play, Clemson is playing its best ball of the year.

No. 11 New Mexico, No. 3 Baylor and No. 2 Arizona have all tried and failed to topple a Clemson team that has dramatically outperformed its No. 6 seed in this tournament and trailed for a combined 50 seconds across its three games (120 minutes).

Guard Chase Hunter had a poor ACC Tournament showing, and now he’s on a three-game heater. Center PJ Hall was in foul trouble, and backup forwards RJ Godfrey and Chauncey Wiggins stepped up. Sharpshooter Joe Girard III is 4-18 on 3-pointers this tournament but making the sort of impact that doesn’t show up in the box score.

The Tigers could come back down to earth at any point.

But at the same time, nothing feels out of reach.

“When I think that we play the right way and play at a high level, we can play with just about anybody in the country,” Brownell said. “We’ve proven that. And we’re certainly going to have to do it tomorrow to win.”

Alabama has ‘extra motivation’

It’s not like the Crimson Tide need much pumping up for this game. Alabama is also seeking its first ever Final Four appearance, and it upset No. 1 UNC in epic fashion late Thursday night behind an all-time game from forward Grant Nelson.

But way back in November, Alabama also lost to Clemson, 85-77, at home during the ACC/SEC Challenge. It was one of the marquee non-conference wins that made the Tigers an NCAA lock and one of only two home losses all year for coach Nate Oats’ squad.

Both teams insisted they’re far removed from that game at this point and they’re essentially scouting brand new teams for the Elite Eight. But still …

“I think as a competitor, if you’ve got some pride, you got embarrassed on your home court earlier in the year,” Oats said. “And you’ve got a chance to redeem it on a neutral floor. I think that would be a little extra motivation for you right there.”

Alabama, the scariest No. 4 seed in the tournament, beat No. 13 Charleston and No. 12 Grand Canyon the opening weekend before knocking off UNC behind 24 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks from Nelson, a North Dakota State transfer.

Clemson vs. Alabama game notes

• Clemson’s 44-year gap between Elite Eight appearances (1980 to 2024) is the fourth longest in NCAA Tournament history, per CBS Sports research. Loyola Chicago went a record 54 years between appearances from 1963 to 2018.

• Clemson can become the first No. 6 seed to reach the Final Four since Michigan in 1992 and only the seventh since seeding began in 1979

• Clemson is 8-4 all time against Alabama, including 4-0 in Tuscaloosa, but the Crimson Tide lead 3-2 in neutral site meetings

• Alabama is in its second Elite Eight (2004) and has won seven NCAA Tournament the past four seasons under Oats after winning seven in the previous 26 years

• Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (21.4 ppg) has scored a program record 750 points this season and has averaged 24.7 points in three NCAA Tournament games