Alabama will attempt to advance to its second Sweet 16 in three seasons when it meets Maryland on Saturday night in Birmingham.

The South region’s No. 1 seeded Tide will tip off against the No. 8 seed Terrapins at 9:02 p.m. CT in Legacy Arena, with the winner advancing to play No. 5 seed San Diego State next Friday in Louisville, Kentucky.

Alabama is an 8.5-point betting favorite against Maryland, which finished its Big Ten schedule 11-9 and is 22-12 overall.

Check back here for live updates once the game begins.

PREGAME

— There is some Auburn orange and blue left in the crowd from the Auburn-Houston game, but not much. The pregame introductions revealed a very pro-Alabama crowd.

— Same starting lineup since the SEC tournament for Alabama: Jahvon Quinerly, Mark Sears, Brandon Miller, Noah Clowney and Charles Bediako.

— Nate Oats during his pregame CTSN radio interview: “Somebody told me thrive and advance. We’re going to try to tell them, thrive and advance. That’s our motto.” Oats said Brandon Miller, who is dealing with a groin injury and had no points Thursday night, “has got some fire about him. I think you’ll see him a lot different tonight.”

Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.