Miami vs. Alabama NIT Odds
Miami vs. Alabama NIT odds were available at Sportsbook.com for Wednesday night’s game.
The Line/Total: Alabama -5 & 130.5
For teams competing in the NIT, so much about this time of year is about reflection and resurrection. It’s about trying to put the past four months of basketball in the rearview mirror, and trying to take advantage of one last opportunity to put a championship, of some kind, on its resume. Miami coach Frank Haith is not thinking about the four straight games he lost in midseason by 2, 2, 4 and 4 points, or the heartbreaking buzzer-beater he dropped to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament, he is looking ahead. For Alabama coach Anthony Grant, the debate of whether the Crimson Tide deserved a spot in the Big Dance is moot. All that matters now for the SEC West champions is that with one more win, the Tide will be rolling into the Big Apple with a chance for an NIT title, a major step in the basketball reclamation project that Grant is executing in Tuscaloosa.
Miami is coming off an 81-72 victory over Missouri State in Coral Gables. Sixth-year senior Adrian Thomas extended his career at least one more game by scoring all 16 of his points in the second half to help the Hurricanes overcome a six-point halftime deficit. "I just wanted to win the game," Thomas said. "I don't want this season to end, because once it's over, it's official for me." Point guard Durand Scott led the ‘Canes with 20 points, and credited Thomas’ focus and explosiveness during a key second-half run, when Thomas hit four three-pointers during the first 4:15 of the half. "A.T. was the reason we made that turnaround in the second half," said Scott. "We just came out aggressive and stayed together on the defensive side. And we let A.T. go to work on the offensive side." Added Thomas: "Once the first one went in, I just kept shooting." Malcolm Grant added 10 points for Miami, while Reggie Johnson chipped in with nine points and nine rebounds. Another key to the ferocious comeback of the ‘Canes was the team’s performance at the free-throw line. While Miami did not score a single point from the line in the first half, they shot 24 free throws in the second half, connecting on 21 of them (88%).
Alabama advanced to the quarterfinal round with a 74-67 victory over the Lobos of New Mexico. Tony Mitchell had 23 points and six boards, while Trevor Releford added 20 points. Alabama’s offense sizzled in the second half, making 15-of-20 shots in the closing stanza to close strong and set up the Crimson Tide for a shot at advancing to the NIT final grouping in New York City for the sixth time in school history. "I think our guys are excited to still have an opportunity to continue to play and continue to try to play for a championship," Grant said. Alabama stayed in control of the game despite an off night from one of its leading scorers, JaMychal Green (15.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG) who was saddled with foul trouble, and only produced seven points and seven boards in 20 minutes of action. Alabama shot 53%, while holding the Lobos to 37.9% shooting from the floor, which is even lower than the 38.2% the Tide has held opponents to all season (third-best in Division I). While the ‘Canes know what it’s like to play against a tough-minded defensive team (Miami lost to Florida State twice, the same Seminoles who lead the nation in FG Pct. defense at 36.0%), what Miami is not used to is playing a tough-minded defensive team on Alabama’s home court of Coleman Coliseum, where the Tide is a perfect 18-0 this season. The words of New Mexico coach Steve Alford should be a cautionary tale for what Haith’s team can expect. "It's one of the better defensive teams that we've played all season long," Alford said. "They mix up their pressures, they back off, they come at you. They just do a really good job of keeping you off balance."
The Hurricanes are 6-1-1 ATS in their past eight games, and are 9-3 ATS in non-conference games this season. But Miami is only 5-4-2 ATS on the road and 1-2 ATS with one day’s rest. In addition to Alabama’s stellar 12-2 ATS (86%) home mark, it is also 13-4 ATS (77%) as a favorite and 11-4 ATS (73%) following an ATS victory.
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