Meet Grant Nelson: Alabama's Sweet 16 hero
Video above: Listen to Grant Nelson and the Crimson Tide
To win in March you always need an unexpected performance.
Last night for the Alabama Crimson Tide, that came from Grant Nelson.
"I couldn't be happier for Grant, but did I expect 24, 12 and five no. Would I have said I'd been totally shocked no cause I know he's capable of it, but man he showed up tonight," Head Coach Nate Oats said postgame.
>> GAME RECAP: Alabama beats North Carolina 89-87 in last minute of Sweet 16
On a floor that featured three All-American's, the 6'11 forward from North Dakota shined the brightest.
A bounce-back performance for him after scoring six points combined in the first two tournament games. He credits his teammates for lifting him up.
"These guys just saying like 'go out there get a bucket' really. That gives me a lot of confidence and I give them a lot of credit, I couldn't have done it without them," Nelson said.
Through the performance, the country got to find out just what this kid for North Dakota is capable of.
"I'm from a smalltown, Devil's Lake shoutout all those guys, just a loving community. I really grew up with everything I could ask for, playing basketball everyday, had a good high school team we didn't go very far many years, but I mean it got me to North Dakota State where I stayed three years."
>> 'This would be the biggest win in the history of Alabama basketball': Nate Oats on mental preparation for Elite 8
Now everyone knows what Head Coach Nate Oats already did and that Nelson and the Tide are a perfect match.
"I liked Coach Oats a little bit so I gave Alabama a chance and I mean I think its paying off," Nelson said.
"We're both bad golfers trying to get better, we've golfed a little bit. He's trying to teach me how to drive; neither one of us are very good," Oats said.
