Underdog Hofstra hopes to catch No. 4 seed Alabama off-balance

After spending several days in the news for all the wrong reasons, Alabama is more anxious for the NCAA Tournament than ever.

The No. 4 seed Crimson Tide (23-9) will look to put an ugly week behind them when they tip off against No. 13 seed Hofstra (24-10) on Friday afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Tampa, Fla.

Alabama is without Aden Holloway, who was suspended from the team after his arrest Monday on felony drug charges. Police searched Holloway's home and discovered...