Alabama News

General

Alabama basketball breaks March Madness 3-point record vs. BYU

Alabama basketball knew its Sweet 16 matchup with BYU would feature more offense than its first two NCAA Tournament games. However, what the Crimson Tide did against the Cougars was unprecedented.

The Tide connected for its 22nd three-pointer with 7:41 remaining in the second half. That broke the single-game team record, set at 21 by Loyola Marymount in 1990.

The second-seeded UA squad will move onto the Elite Eight with a win over BYU. The record-breaking three got Alabama up to 97-76, and eventually led to a 113-88 win.

It was fitting that Mark Sears was the one to break the record. The shot he hit to pass the mark gave him 31 points, and he had led the Tide all game long, and was his ninth three made, also an Alabama single-game record.

Sears exited the game with under five minutes left. He had 34 points, and 10 made threes.

Chris Youngblood hit the shot that tied the record. Alabama also broke the NCAA Tournament record for most three-point attempts in one game, as it went over 44.

UA eventually ended the game with 51 threes tried. Alabama shot 49% from beyond the arc, 53% from the field.

Aden Holloway was second on the team in made threes, with six. Youngblood had five, while Labaron Philon and Aiden Sherrell had two each.

The Tide started out the NCAA Tournament with a win over Robert Morris, before beating Saint Mary’s in Cleveland to make the Sweet 16. No. 6-seed BYU took down Wisconsin in the second round to punch its ticket to Newark, where Thursday’s game is being played.

Alabama will play in the Elite Eight Saturday, for the third time in school history, against the winner of Arizona and Duke’s game, which will be played later on Thursday.

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16-year-old charged in Birmingham shooting that killed man, injured woman and child

A 16-year-old boy has been charged with capital murder in a Birmingham shooting that killed a man and injured two others, including a child.

The teen, whose name is not being released because of his age, is charged in the March 21 shooting that killed 20-year-old Dorian Jackson.

Just after 9:35 p.m. that Friday, South Precinct officers were dispatched to the 200 Block of Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard on report of a person shot.

Officers arrived on the scene and were alerted to Jackson lying in a backyard in the 300 Block of Iota Avenue suffering from a gunshot wound.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service transported the victim to UAB where he died Saturday morning.

Two additional victims, an adult female and a 12-year-old boy, showed up via private vehicle at Princeton Baptist Medical Center.

The boy suffered life-threatening injuries, Officer Truman Fitzgerald said.

Police officials previously said the three victims traveled to the location to meet someone when they were all shot, possibly while inside the vehicle. Beyond that, a motive has not been disclosed.

The Crime Reduction Team took the 16-year-old suspect into custody Tuesday and announced his arrest Thursday evening.

In addition to capital murder, the teen is also charged with two counts of attempted murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle and certain persons forbidden to possess a pistol.

Fitzgerald said the suspect is charged as an adult and will be held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.

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Boston Red Sox Opening Day: Fanatics x Hey Dude released brand-new line of shoes with free shipping

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‘It’s going to be fun’: New Westminster boys basketball coach has goals beyond the court

A Class 4A program in Huntsville found its boys basketball coach in Tennessee.

Westminster Christian has hired Zach Dragoo to lead its boys basketball program, the school announced on Thursday.

Dragoo comes from Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences, where he spent 21 years overall and the last 5 as the boys basketball coach.

During his tenure at the Tennessee school, he won 154 games, nine district tournament championships and two region championships.

His teams made nine sectional appearances and three state tournament appearances finishing as the state runner-up one season.

Before getting into coaching, he played college basketball at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he played for head coach Jeff Lebo and former UAH coach John Shulman, now leading the program at Central Arkansas.

Dragoo is excited about the opportunity to take over the boys basketball program at Westminster but has always been inspired to help build the character and determination of his teams through his faith.

“I had a chance to go with coach Lebo as a student assistant when he left for Auburn, but I knew I wanted to get into coaching, wanted to influence young men and show them Christ and help them and disciple them for Christ, so I decided to coach high school basketball”, he said. “People have asked me in the past, How good is your team going to be?’ I like to say, ‘Ask me in 20 years after these guys are husbands and fathers.‘”

Dragoo is taking over a Westminster squad that finished runner-up to Madison Academy in Class 4A, Area 15 last season and returns three starters: Maks Leatherwood, Reid Kaufman and Jameer Battle, along with sixth man Brady Wilson.

The Wildcats have played in 11 straight area finals, winning seven of those; Westminster claimed the Class 4A state championship in 2016 and finished as the 4A runner-up to Jacksonville in 2023 under legendary coach Ronnie Stapler.

Dragoo is looking forward to being a part of the rich basketball history both at Westminster Christian and in the Huntsville area, eager to get to know the coaches.

“It’s going to be exciting learning the tendencies of coaches I don’t know,” he said. ”In Chattanooga, I had a good idea of what to expect after a timeout or sideline inbounds play what’s going to happen. But, it’s going to be fun and a challenge for sure.”

While playing for the Mocs at UTC, Dragoo made a lasting impression on the coaching staff, including current Central Arkansas head coach John Shulman.

“Zach played for me at UTC and Zach has been a staple of Chattanooga basketball for a long time,” Shulman told AL.com. “His coaching and how he lives through his faith make him an incredible fit at Westminster Christian Academy. He can coach, he loves people, he loves his faith and lives his faith. Westminster has an elite basketball program, and Zach will be a great addition to it.”

Zach is married to his wife Ali Dragoo and has three children, who will become part of the Westminster Christian family in the fall.

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Port of Huntsville has best year of rail cargo lifts since 2008

The International Intermodal Center at the Port of Huntsville had a second consecutive year of growth in cargo operations in 2024 and had its best year since 2008 for rail lifts – or lifting cargo from train cars.

The North Alabama inland port recorded 33,745 rail lifts in 2024, a 22.3% increase from 27,597 in 2023. On March 19, the IIC surpassed a historic milestone of one million lifts since those operations began at the intermodal facility.

“More than 400 companies trust our capabilities to provide timely and economical service that is vital to their operations,” said Joey Ceci, board chair of the Port of Huntsville. “Phenomenal, double-digit growth like we have seen for the past two years validates this for us and encourages us to be an even better partner in the years to come.”

The International Intermodal Center at the Port of Huntsville has served north Alabama and south central Tennessee with intermodal services since 1986.

Currently the only inland port in north Alabama, the Port of Huntsville provides a single-hub location specializing in receiving, transferring, storing and distributing international and domestic cargo via air, rail and highway. The intermodal complex is equipped with a five-mile rail spur connected to the Norfolk Southern Railroad mainline allowing access to ports on both East and West coasts of the United States.

“North Alabama continues to emerge as one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions—with thriving industries from aerospace to automotive —and our results in 2024 highlight sustained momentum despite global supply chain disruptions,” said Shawn Tureman, vice president of Automotive & Intermodal Marketing for Norfolk Southern Corporation. “Building on a record-breaking year, our strengthened partnership with the Port of Huntsville is giving Alabama and Tennessee businesses seamless access to major U.S. seaports, and we’ve invested in enhancing our service product in this region. As we move into 2025, we’re committed to delivering more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective intermodal solutions that accelerate speed to market and drive sustained regional growth.”

Amenities include a rail cargo terminal and ramp, U.S. Customs and Border Protection onsite, Foreign Trade Zone No. 83, and 436,000 square feet of air cargo warehouse and distribution facilities with 35,000 square feet of cold storage available. The Port of Huntsville is located alongside I-565 permitting convenient, uncongested access to the interstate highway system.

“Thanks to Norfolk Southern service and our collaboration with 14 steamship companies, rail traffic has grown steadily year over year,” said Butch Roberts, CEO of the Port of Huntsville. “We have spent $230 million on air freight infrastructure and over $70 million on rail intermodal infrastructure. A prosperous future for HSV is ensured by these developments as well as the availability of first-rate facilities including a depot storage yard and U.S. Customs on site.”

The International Intermodal Center at the Port of Huntsville has connected the rapidly growing Huntsville community and the Tennessee Valley region with the rest of the world for 39 years.

“Our partnerships with local government and community organizations have enabled us to collaborate closely and create the kind of economic growth and prosperity that cities across the nation are desirous of,” Roberts said. “We are eager to keep working to provide even greater growth and employment opportunities in the areas we serve.”

The Port of Huntsville is an inland port facility that is comprised of four operating entities – Huntsville International Airport (HSV), International Intermodal Center, Jetplex Industrial Park and Huntsville International Spaceport – and four contract operations including Foreign Trade Zone No. 83, a fixed base operator, the Four Points by Sheraton hotel and Sunset Landing Golf Course. The Port of Huntsville is governed by an Airport Authority with a five-member board of directors.

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DraftKings promo code: Get instant $200 bonus for Maryland vs. Florida in Sweet 16

It’s time to get mad. The 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is about to start, which makes this the perfect time to sign up with the DraftKings promo code (no code needed), which gives new users a bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets instantly deal.

So if you’re a new bettor looking to get in on the action with one of the leaders in sports betting, here is how this offer from one of the best March Madness betting sites works.

DraftKings promo code at a glance

DraftKings promo code: How to claim the offer

The DraftKings new user promo is great because you get your bonus bets whether you win or lose. Here are the steps to collect eight $25 bonus-bet credits.

1. Sign up for a new DraftKings Sportsbook account with no bonus code required
2. Deposit $5+ and make a first wager of at least that amount.
3. Collect $200 in bonus bets, distributed as eight $25 bonus bets within 72 hours of placing your first wager
4. Play through the bonus bets within seven days or risk forfeiture
5. Bonus bets expire in 7 days
6. Bonus bets have no cash value and will not be included in winnings

Bonus bets must be played through at least 1x before they can be withdrawn. Bonus bets will only pay out profit instead of profit plus stake of a cash bet.

The initial wager must be placed within 30 days of sign-up but may settle at any time. Bonus bets also may settle at any point, meaning they are eligible for Futures bets or any market DraftKings offers.

DraftKings existing user promos

DraftKings has made its name with promotions that keep players coming back for more. But here are some of the promos the book is best known for.

• Odds boosts: DraftKings always has odds boosts for every marquee sporting event on the calendar. It also routinely lets users curate their own boosted bets — typically for parlays.
• No sweat bet: Place a multi-leg March Madness wager, and DraftKings will reimburse your stake with a bonus bet if your parlay — either traditional or same-game — does not hit. This promo is available every day of the NCAA Tournament and carries a minimum of -500 odds per leg.

How to use the DraftKings promo code for March Madness

Maryland +6.5 (-110) vs Florida at DraftKings

The Gators are the top seed in the West region but will have their work cut out for them against one of the top defensive teams remaining.

Maryland is allowing exactly 60 points per game in the NCAA Tournament, which makes the Under (156.5, -105) as a compelling prediction for the regional semifinal too.

Maryland has been playing close, competitive games all season — its eight losses have come by 28 total points. But the Terrapins haven’t been able to get over the hump and beat any of the remaining teams, except their six-point win at Michigan on March 5.

The best part is if the Terps don’t win, or even cover +6.5, you’ll still get eight $25 bonus-bet credits thanks to the DraftKings promo code.

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Live updates: Alabama basketball faces BYU in Sweet 16

Alabama basketball’s NCAA Tournament run is scheduled to continue on Thursday. The Crimson Tide will face BYU in the Sweet 16 in Newark, with a chance to advance to its second consecutive Elite Eight on the line.

Nate Oats and the Tide started out the tournament in Cleveland, by beating Robert Morris in the first round. After that, UA rolled through the second round, taking down Saint Mary’s.

Now, Alabama faces a BYU team that beat No. 3 seed Wisconsin to get to the Sweet 16. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:09 p.m. CT, and will be aired on CBS.

Follow along here for live updates once the game begins.

1st half

10:43— After falling behind initially, Alabama leads 27-25. Mark Sears has 11 points and has started 3-for-4 from three. Aden Holloway has made two threes as well, while the Tide is being outrebounded 10-7 so far.

15:32— Cougars lead 13-12 at the first media timeout. BYU starts out 6-for-10 from the field, while Alabama begins 5-for-8. Crimson Tide has already turned the ball over three times.

20:00— BYU wins the tip. Game is underway

Pregame

— Starters for Alabama: Labaron Philon, Mark Sears, Chris Youngblood, Grand Nelson, Cliff Omoruyi.

— Starters for BYU: Egor Demin, Richie Saunders, Trevin Knell, Mawot Mag, Keba Keita.

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bet365 bonus code ALBET365 for Alabama vs. BYU: Bet $5, get $150 or $1K first-bet promo

The No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide meet the No. 6 BYU Cougars in a Sweet 16 East Region matchup at 6:09 p.m. ET. Our exclusive bet365 bonus code ALBET365 gets you on the court for big winnings. New registrants can bet $5 to gets $150 in bonus bets, win or lose, or choose a $1,000 first-bet safety net promo.

You are able to use either offer to bet on Alabama to advance to the Elite Eight for a second consecutive season, which would be a first in program history. Bet365 is one of the best March Madness betting sites due to its early payout option, which grades your moneyline bet a winner if your team goes up 15 points.

bet365 bonus code ALBET365 at a glance

bet365 bonus code ALBET365: How to get $150 in bonus bets

The bet365 bonus code ALBET365 offers new users a featured bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets deal. You are guaranteed to receive the bonus regardless of the result of the qualifying wager.

Here’s how to get the offer:

• Click any banner or link on this page to launch the registration process.
• Fill out the required fields. The bet365 bonus code ALBET365 will auto-fill if you sign up via our exclusive link.
• Enter a minimum first-time deposit of $10 or more.
• Place a minimum wager of at least $5.
• Bet365 will then deal you $150 in site credits within 72 hours, no matter whether the first wager wins or loses.
• You can also opt to choose a first-bet safety net as an alternative. The amount of your initial wager will be credited through bonuses if the first bet does not win (max. $1,000 bonus).
• If you take the bet $5, get $150 offer you need to make sure your first wager has -500 odds or longer (+100 qualifies, -800 will not)
• The bonus bets expire in 7 days
• If you take the $1,000 first-bet bonus promo you’ll receive your bonus bets roughly 24 hours after your first wager is graded a loss
• You have 30 days to use each promo after you sign up

The bonus bets will expire after seven days and must be played through 1x before making a withdrawal. Click on a bet365 link or banner on this page to view the full terms and conditions of the offer.

bet365 existing user promos

After you have enjoyed using the initial bonus bets, more inviting offers become available from bet365. Here are two current promos for registered users:

• Early payouts: If the team you place a moneyline wager grabs a 15-point lead, the bet qualifies as a winner.
• Parlay boost: Create a multi-leg wager, and bet365 will elevate the parlay up to 100% based on the odds. The bet365 early payout promo also applies to parlay legs.

Sweet 16 games to bet with the bet365 bonus code ALBET365

Here’s a rundown of Thursday’s Sweet 16 slate. Remember, if you’re in New Jersey you can’t wager on the East Regional games. If you’re traveling to New Jersey, wager on any game before you enter The Garden State. Here’s list of games you can bet tonight, along with the odds:

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FanDuel promo code for BYU vs. Alabama in Sweet 16 nets up to $200 in bonus bets

Alabama is back in the Sweet 16, and if you want to cash in, the FanDuel promo code is a great way to do so. Whether you’re confident in how Alabama vs. BYU will play out or you’re more interested in learning more about FanDuel, we have your back.

So, if you want to wager on the Crimson Tide to get back to the Elite Eight for the second straight year, then there’s no better way than doing so at the No. 1 sportsbook in North America. Here’s how to unlock up to $200 in bonus bets by taking advantage of the FanDuel promo code for BYU vs. Alabama.

FanDuel promo code at a glance

FanDuel promo code: how to claim the offer

If you haven’t jumped into FanDuel Sportsbook yet because you aren’t sure how, signing up for the FanDuel promo code is as easy as completing a purchase at your favorite online retailer.

Here are the steps:

1. Visit the FanDuel Sportsbook and click “join”
2. Deposit $5+ and place a first wager of at least that amount
3. Receive $200 in bonus bets if that wager settles as a win before 11:59 p.m. ET on April 7
4. No odds minimum for initial wager
5. No site credit will be issued if wager is graded a loss
6. Bonus bets must be played through 1x before being eligible for withdrawal

FanDuel existing user promos

FanDuel is constantly changing the game for players of all experience levels. Here are some of the best promotions to consider:

• CBB profit boost. If you’re betting on Bama but don’t love the odds, FanDuel will give college basketball bettors an odds boost on any Sweet 16 game. Simply opt in and toggle the button when placing a bet to get the profit boost.
• MLB Home Run Jackpot. If you want to put your bonus bets to work, take a shot at the FanDuel MLB Home Run Jackpot. Aside from a 25 percent profit boost to use on an anytime home run bettor, you will get a share of $500,000 in bonus bets if that player homers in the game you bet him to.

How to use your FanDuel promo code for Alabama vs. BYU

Alabama moneyline (-196) at FanDuel Sportsbook

The Crimson Tide are a four-and-a-half-point favorite over the Cougars, and Nate Oats’ team will have the best player on the floor at almost all times, senior guard Mark Sears.

Sears is averaging 17 points and 6.5 assists per game in the tournament and will face BYU, which ranked 285th in the country in 3-point percentage against per game (35.1).

With no minimum odds required to unlock $200 in bonus bets, wagering $5+ on the Crimson Tide to top BYU is the way to go.

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What Bruce Pearl said about balancing the transfer portal with March Madness run

The transfer portal has brought plenty of change to college sports, and basketball is no different.

One adjustment for players and coaches alike is the timing of when teams start building their rosters. Players began officially entering the portal on Monday, despite the NCAA tournament still going on for two more weeks.

Auburn is one of the handful of teams that now has to balance trying to finish the season and compete for a national championship while roster building for the 2025-2026 season is already taking shape.

However, for head coach Bruce Pearl, his focus is still the same.

“I’m not spending any time on it,“ Pearl said. ”I’ve made a couple calls, but not many, just to reach out. We’ve got a big staff, so our guys are just letting the potential prospects know that we’ve got work to do. Hopefully we’re working for a couple weeks. But when our season is over, we’ll begin to put that roster together next year.”

Auburn hasn’t had any of its current players enter the portal yet, but the Tigers will still look to replace multiple departing players this offseason.

For other teams still in the Sweet 16, the issue is already hitting home. Michigan guard Justin Pippen was one of the first players to enter the portal this week, despite his team having a date with Auburn in the Sweet 16 Friday night.

While he hasn’t played since Michigan’s regular season finale on March 9, it’s still a loss of a scholarship player while the season is ongoing.

“Obviously there was news last week about players on our team entering the portal. Times are changing now,” said Michigan forward Danny Wolf. “College basketball is just going to such a unique and different place than what anyone is used to.”

Pearl also said he’s “not a big fan of this transfer every year.”

“We’re teaching the kids to flee, not fight. I think the one-time transfer is great. I think the grad transfer is great,” Pearl said. “I don’t make the rules, but I’ve got to play by them.”

Pearl’s comments come after Michigan State coach Tom Izzo had a lengthy rant earlier in the week about the portal window intersecting with the final rounds of the NCAA tournament.

“I loved Tom Izzo’s response. I loved it. It was authentic. It was real,” Pearl said. “He is laser focused right now on trying to give his team the best chance they possibly can to advance to the Final Four. I get it completely.”

Both Izzo and Pearl’s teams will play in the Sweet 16 Friday night, and wins could set up a matchup between Michigan State and Auburn in the Elite Eight.

Auburn will play its Sweet 16 game against Michigan, with tipoff set for 8:39 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

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