The Elite Eight is here, and Duke men’s basketball takes on No. 2 seed Alabama with a spot in the Final Four on the line. The Blue Zone breaks down the matchup with an overview, key-stat, X-Factor and three keys to the game: 

: 25-12, 13-5 in SEC

: 28-8, 13-5 in SEC

: Nate Oats

: Duke leads 5-0

: 74-64, Duke, Nov. 27, 2013

No. 2 seed Alabama will be the final obstacle standing before a Duke team with aspirations of San Antonio next weekend. It’s a matchup without much history — the two teams haven’t squared off in over a decade, and the Crimson Tide under Nate Oats are an entirely different program. Saturday’s contest will mark Alabama’s third trip to the Elite Eight in program history, with the second having come just last season. Last year’s team managed to cut down the nets as the No. 4 seed in the West region, earning the program’s first trip to the Final Four. This year, the Crimson Tide managed a third-place finish in the SEC and made it to the semifinals in the SEC Tournament before being knocked off by the Florida Gators.

The Crimson Tide play fast. In fact, according to KenPom, their 75.2 adjusted tempo is easily the highest in Division I. Alabama thrives in transition, leveraging its array of shooting threats to fire off a three. Duke, however, has the chance to be a wall for such a fast-paced offense. The Blue Devils’ switch-everything defensive approach often forces opponents to use every bit of the shot clock searching for an opening. 

In a contest between such talented and proven teams, comfort is likely to be a deciding factor for who gets to cut down the East Region’s nets. Alabama will want to push at every opportunity, leveraging momentum to land threes at a high clip, as it did when it made an NCAA Tournament record 25 shots from deep last time out. Duke, on the other hand, will likely try to slow the Crimson Tide down and force them into a drawn-out half court offense, against which the Blue Devils thrive defensively. -Josh Alms

In Duke’s 100-93 win against Arizona to reach the Elite Eight, level-headed Tulane transfer Sion James played a key role in keeping the team under control. With a combined 46 fouls called in the defeat of the Wildcats, some of which caused outrage among spectators, his presence and calm attitude were essential in keeping the Blue Devils focused when foul trouble plagued the starters and Patrick Ngongba II. Racking up 16 points and four assists in the Sweet 16 win, James’ offensive contributions to the team continue to prove indispensable in close games. 

Seen by some as an unnamed leader of a roster full of young players, the experienced graduate student is known for being a playmaker and slowing the game down when hearts start racing. This extensive game knowledge and emotional control will be necessary when going up against the Alabama team, whose starters consist of four graduate students and one freshman, a stark contrast to Duke’s trio of freshmen starters. As a rock in a swirling ocean of attention and the pressure of a sixth championship title, James’ steadfastness can propel Duke closer to the finish line.

Now this is someone you wouldn’t want to challenge to a game of “HORSE.” Cementing a name for himself in a dominant Sweet 16 win against BYU, graduate student Mark Sears went 10-of-16 from behind the arc. This feat set a new season-high in both made 3-pointers and attempts for the 6-foot-1 guard. He is now one of six players who has ever made double-digit threes in a March Madness game. Reaching 1,944 points after tallying 34 in this contest, the Muscle Shoals, Ala., native overtook Eddie Phillips, who played for Alabama from 1978–82, for the second-most points in Crimson Tide program history. In last year’s NCAA Tournament, Sears helped Alabama make their first Final Four appearance, averaging 24.2 points per game in the tournament. 

As a graduate student dancing in the tournament for the second time, Sears’ experience is something for the inexperienced Duke freshmen starters to be wary of. The guard is on fire, and with the momentum rolling, it may be hard to extinguish him. - Allison Cato

Alabama sliced, cooked and served BYU à la mode in its Sweet 16 matchup Thursday night thanks to 3-point shooting. The Crimson Tide finished 25-of-51 from beyond the arc to break the 35-year-old record for both 3-pointers made and attempted in an NCAA Tournament game. Prior to the teardown, Alabama’s 3-point make rate for the season yielded 35.6%, with a fluctuation from a season-high of 58.6% against Texas Feb. 11 to a season-low of 19.2% just four days later against Auburn. If the Crimson Tide’s shooting momentum continues in the Elite Eight matchup, head coach Jon Scheyer’s squad must stay tight on its assignments in man-to-man defense, especially beyond the arc. Quick close-outs, transitions and switches are crucial to prevent Alabama from serving up another record-making shooting performance.

The Blue Devil’s notoriously calm demeanor on the court will clash with the Tide’s top-ranked adjusted tempo according to KenPom. In comparison, Duke holds the 264th place in the rankings. Alabama’s quick pace and transition breaks allow it to boast a whopping average of 91.4 points per game throughout the season. The Durham squad must maintain its composure, control the pace and employ efficient defense to neutralize the Tide’s offensive prowess. This is entirely feasible for the young Duke team — despite facing significant foul trouble in the second half against Arizona Thursday, the Blue Devils kept their cool and held a lead throughout the half.

The Crimson Tide not only piles up points on its end of the scoreboard but also gives up a tremendous number. Throughout the season, Alabama has allowed its opponents to score an average of 81.2 points per game. If its offense is record breaking, defense is its Achilles’ heel. The Tide prioritizes perimeter defense, often leaving the paint wide open — the Cougars scored 50 points from inside the paint in the Sweet 16 game. This offers a prime opportunity for the Blue Devils to capitalize on the vulnerability with signature lobs from freshmen Cooper Flagg or Kon Knueppel to big man Khaman Maluach. If Duke can secure shots and tear down Alabama’s defense, Scheyer has a good shot at reaching the Final Four for the first time in his coaching career. -Ariella Maroni

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