Alabama basketball's dreams foiled with Sweet 16 upset loss to San Diego State

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky ― Alabama basketball looked like it had a clear path to its first Final Four in program history.

Beat No. 5 seed San Diego State and then either No. 6 seed Creighton or No. 15 seed Princeton, and Alabama was going to Houston. The Crimson Tide looked like a team that had the talent, the depth and the defense to put together an all-time great season.

Looks can be deceiving, though. Or more specifically, March Madness can be unforgiving. Especially when you don't play your best basketball.

Alabama didn't on Friday, and the Crimson Tide's season ended in the Sweet 16 with a 71-64 loss to San Diego State at KFC Yum! Center.

Here are observations and takeaways from the game between No. 1 seed Alabama (31-6) and No. 5 seed San Diego State (30-6).

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Alabama turnovers help fuel Aztecs' second-half run

The Crimson Tide started finally building a comfortable lead. Alabama finally was getting its offense rolling, and it was playing at the pace it wanted.

The Crimson Tide held a 48-39 lead with 11:40 left.

San Diego State wasn't ready to call it a game, though. Far from it.

The Aztecs started going to work, finding different ways to score and then limit Alabama.

The Crimson Tide had troubles scoring near the rim thanks to San Diego State blocks, and turnovers started popping up.

By the time five minutes remained on the clock, the Aztecs had gone on a 16-2 run. The Crimson Tide had committed four turnovers over 6:35 and had made only one of its past nine shots. San Diego State had also grabbed a 55-50 lead.

Brandon Miller can't get in groove

Miller contributed, but he wasn't himself.

The SEC player of the year wasn't shooting well, he had trouble avoiding turnovers and he wasn't finding a way to take over the game offensively like he can.

Miller did score points, he did grab boards and he did register assists. But he couldn't put together a second half run like the SEC player of the year is capable of. Alabama badly needed it.

Miller finished with nine points on 3 of 19 shooting and 1 of 10 from deep with 11 rebounds, three assists and six turnovers.

Pesky defense flusters Alabama offense early and often

Alabama looked uncomfortable early and often offensively.

The Aztecs found ways to throw the Crimson Tide out of rhythm, and Alabama could not get shots to fall. That wasn't just from 3-point range, although that was a problem within itself. Alabama had trouble finishing at the rim, too.

All in all, San Diego State presented a physical defense that the Crimson Tide struggled to counter early. Alabama made 8 of 29 shots (28%) and went 1-for-11(9%) from deep in the first half. The Aztecs blocked eight shots, seven in the second half.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball's dreams foiled with Sweet 16 loss to San Diego State