Alabama basketball’s Mark Sears will face one of his old teammates on Friday, when the Crimson Tide play Robert Morris. Kam Woods, who played AAU with Sears, is the Colonials’ leading scorer.

Woods, speaking to reporters Thursday ahead of the first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament, was asked what he remembered about the UA point guard.

“He’s a great player, we all know that,” Woods said. “But just like us, he’s human. Growing up with him, pretty good player, went to Ohio, he played great, and then transferred to ‘Bama, he’s been doing his thing.”

Woods joined Robert Morris this season after making the Final Four last season with NC State. He’s a native of Alabama, playing his high school basketball alongside former Crimson Tide cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry at Pinson Valley, where they won a state championship.

Now, he and the 15-seed Colonials will look to pull off what would be one of the biggest upsets of the NCAA Tournament against second-seeded Alabama.

Woods shared what he thought the keys to pulling off the improbable were.

“Doing the things that got us to win the Horizon League tournament,” Woods said. “Take care of our bodies. Get rest knowing that it’s an early game. That’s usually the time we practice, so I feel like we’ll be well-prepared for that time. And just clearing out all the distractions.

Woods has averaged 15.1 points per game so far this season, along with 5.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds. He earned second-team All-Horizon League honors.

Alabama and Robert Morris are scheduled to tip off at 11:40 a.m. CT at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The winner of the game will face the victor of Vanderbilt-Saint Mary’s.

The Crimson Tide’s game will be aired on TruTV.