Paul Finebaum called Alabama’s loss in the Sweet 16 to San Diego State as an “absolute blown opportunity.”

“I’ll remember this team as arguably the best basketball team in Alabama history,” Finebaum said on his weekly appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning” on WJOX 94.5 in Birmingham. “However, the public will not remember this team very fondly, and I say the public, I’m talking about outside area code 205 around the country. This will be a team and a program remembered for an absolute blown opportunity.”

Darrion Trammell and San Diego State used a dominant defensive performance to knock top overall seed Alabama out of the NCAA Tournament Friday, bottling up Brandon Miller in a 71-64 victory in the Sweet 16. Trammell scored 21 points while Miller was held to nine points on 3-of-19 shooting and had six turnovers.

“They had a straight shot to the Final Four because of carnage within the region,” Finebaum said. “There’s no getting around blowing it on Friday night. And it’s a concern because schools get reputations based on how they play in March, not what they do in November, not in the SEC basketball tournament. All of that was great for Alabama. But when it really mattered … and really the reputation of the program was on the line, they blew it. It may sound harsh to people, but it’s the reality.”

Alabama shot 32 percent overall and just 3 of 27 (11.1 percent) from 3-point range. The Crimson Tide fell short of the second Elite Eight berth in school history.

Finebaum said coach Nate Oats is as responsible as anyone.

“Nate Oats, for all the accolades he has received, and they are numerous – has now gone three consecutive tournaments and lost to a lower seed, and, ultimately, that helps form your image and your reputation.”

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.