TideIllustrated – Alabama’s second-round matchup vs. Maryland features extra bragging rights

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Shortly after Maryland took down West Virginia in its NCAA Match opener Thursday, Terrapins guard Noah Batchelor had a message for Alabama guard Jaden Bradley.

“You’ve obtained to win this subsequent recreation,” Batchelor instructed his former IMG Academy teammate, “so we are able to play on Saturday.”

The conflict between shut associates has been brewing since top-seeded Alabama and No. 8 seed Maryland have been each positioned within the South bracket. Following Maryland’s win over West Virginia, Bradley and the Crimson Tide took care of their half of the equation, cruising previous Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to cement the bragging rights showdown.

“After they received, he referred to as me and began speaking a bit of smack,” Batchelor stated of Bradley. “It’s all pleasant speak. He was simply saying how they’ll beat us, however I feel in any other case.”

Friendships shall be briefly placed on the again burner Saturday night time as Batchelor and Bradley sq. off for a visit to the Candy 16 at 8:40 p.m. CT inside Birmingham’s Legacy Enviornment. Nonetheless, whatever the end result, the 2 associates share a wholesome respect for each other.

“That’s my boy, we’re actually shut,” Bradley stated of Batchelor. “We have been collectively two years at IMG. We’ve been by way of rather a lot, so we nonetheless textual content and sustain with one another.”

Bradley and Batchelor talk by way of an IMG Academy group textual content that additionally contains different stars in Houston ahead Jarace Walker, Baylor guard Keyonte George and Michigan ahead Jett Howard. Collectively, the previous teammates have helped one another navigate by way of their freshman seasons on the faculty degree.

“Every time any person wants one thing, we’re at all times there for one another,” Bradley stated. “We’re at all times one name away, one textual content away. We’ve obtained one another’s again. We watch one another’s recreation, critique them, give one another recommendation, praise one another.”

Whereas Bradley and Batchleor’s roads are set to cross Saturday, they’ve began out on completely different paths to their faculty careers.

Bradley, a McDonald’s All-American, was named to the SEC’s all-freshman group earlier this month. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound level guard has began 22 video games over 35 appearances for Alabama and is averaging 6.7 factors and three.7 assists per recreation.

“He’s an important facilitator, and he loves to search out his teammates, even on transition or pick-and-roll,” Batchelor stated. “He’s a extremely good participant. He is aware of the sport, has a extremely good IQ.”

Batchelor, alternatively, has made only one begin over 21 appearances for Maryland and is averaging a humble 1.7 factors and 1.2 rebounds. Nonetheless, Bradley believes there’s extra to come back from his former teammate.

“His largest factor for me is telling me to maintain going,” Batchelor stated. “My alternative goes to come back up quickly sufficient, so he’s been telling me to be able to step as much as what comes subsequent.”

Bradley’s rooting for that breakout however hopes it comes subsequent season as an alternative of Saturday in opposition to Alabama.

“He’s an elite shooter,” Bradley stated of Batchelor. “He’s undoubtedly a sniper. He’s athletic, can get to the outlet and can even defend. I’ve watched a few of his video games this season and seen him on the market. He’s an important participant, and I’m trying ahead to seeing him once more on the courtroom.”