The Crimson Tide's love for being the underdog wasn't enough to top No. 1 seed Duke (35-3), which won 85-65 to make it to the Final Four in San Antonio with four double-digit scorers, led by 21 points for Kon Knueppel.

Mark Sears shot a free throw late in the second half that could have cut Alabama's deficit to 10 — a last-gasp effort at a comeback still within reach — and watched the ball clang off the back rim. Even the supposed gimmes weren’t automatic for Sears on this night.