Alabama basketball is one win away from history 20 years in the making.

The Crimson Tide honored its 2004 Elite Eight team earlier this season and now, after a late-season slide and NCAA Tournament turnaround, the 2024 group has a chance to return.

Four-seed UA (23-11) is set to play No. 1 North Carolina (29-7) in Sweet 16 a part of the West Region. The winner will advance and play six-seeded Clemson on Saturday. For now, Alabama gets the Tar Heels well-rounded group — highlighted by duo RJ Davis and Armando Bacot — and a primetime audience (8:50 p.m. on CBS).

Alabama reached Los Angeles after beating No. 13 Charleston, 109-96, and then 12-seeded Grand Canyon, 72-61. The Tide’s defense drastically improved from conference play and Mark Sears continued to play like one of the best guards in the country. UNC and head coach Hubert Davis stomped 16-seed Wagner, 90-62, and rallied in the first half over nine-seed Michigan State for an 85-69 win.

Nate Oats said Wednesday that guard and leading 3-point shooter Latrell Wrightsell Jr. was “day-to-day” with a concussion and will be reevaluated by team medical staff pregame. Follow along for live updates from Crypto.com Arena.

Pregame

–Reporters did not spot Wrightsell with the team as they entered the arena. He eventually was on the court for pregame shootaround not in uniform. The Tide will be without its top 3-point shooter.

STARTING LINEUPS:

Alabama has Mark Sears, Rylan Griffen, Aaron Estrada, Nick Pringle and Grant Nelson.

North Carolina will roll out Elliot Cadeau, Cormac Ryan, RJ Davis, Armando Bacot and Harrison Ingram.

—UNC leads Alabama, 12-7, with 15:49 left in a brisk first half. Cadeau has five points, including a deep 3-pointer. Rylan Griffen swished a 3-pointer but Mark Sears has no shot attempts and two giveaways.

–Alabama already has four total turnovers and has allowed seven points off of them. The defense has managed to frustrate UNC otherwise, but the Tide is facing an early deficit, with two free throws for Bacot after the break.

–UA hasn‘t scored in the last 2:01 with a 10-0 Tar Heel run in the same stretch.

–A big 3 from Nelson with a defender in his face came amid an 8-0 Alabama run to cut the UNC lead to 19-17.

–At the under-12 media timeout, North Carolina holds a 21-17 lead over Alabama. Both teams have hit 3 3-pointers. Sears quickly found room for a deep ball and got to the line for two free throws and had five points in four minutes.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].