Alabama and The Flow State Comedown.

Alabama’s historic 25-of-51 three-point barrage in the Sweet 16 against BYU was a Flow State clinic—until last night’s Elite 8 clash with Duke brought a jarring comedown and season-low final score from the nation's most dynamic offensive team. The Tide’s rhythm vanished, their legs faltered, and Duke’s suffocating defense exposed the physical and mental toll of that prior peak. This Flow State Comedown—a steep drop-off after a superhuman outing—is a pattern we’ve seen before, but it’s not inevitable. Somatic training offers a way to extend that momentum, mitigating the energetic crashes that leave athletes reeling.

Alabama dynamo, Mark Sears.

Performance Peaks and Valleys

Last night's Alabama vs. Duke matchup was a classic example of what I call a Flow State Comedown.

In the Sweet 16, Alabama had a historic night—25-of-51 from three, and a blazing 113-88 win over a very talented BYU team. Mark Sears, in particular, was on fire, sinking 10 of 16 from deep. It was a performance defined by pure flow: every shot seemed to drop, every movement synced perfectly, and the Tide looked unstoppable.

Last night in the Elite 8 against Duke, we all saw the drop-off in performance—they were noticeably out of rhythm. Alabama fell 65-85, finishing the game at just 8-of-32 from three. The ball wasn’t falling, the legs looked heavy, and the crisp execution from two nights prior had given way to rushed shots and hesitant passes. Duke dominated the stat sheet, shooting 53.6% from the field and 46.2% from three (6-of-13), while Alabama struggled at 35.4% overall and a dismal 25% from deep. The Tide’s 11 turnovers didn’t help, and they were outrebounded 41-30, a far cry from the fluidity that defined their BYU rout.

This is a common occurrence after an outing defined by Flow State efficiency. That kind of dialed-in performance—where everything clicks at an almost superhuman level—can leave a lingering toll, both physically and mentally. The 51 three-point attempts against BYU weren’t just a statistical flex; they demanded peak execution and exertion. Launching that many shots, especially under pressure from a gritty BYU defense, takes a toll on the body and stamina. Alabama’s legs betrayed them last night—those 32 three-point attempts yielded only 8 makes, and their usual high-octane pace (they lead the nation at 91.4 points per game) sputtered to a season-low 65 points against Duke’s suffocating defense.

Add in the mental side: staying locked in for that long, riding the high of a career night, only to face a quick turnaround against a Duke team built to disrupt shooters with length and intensity. Cooper Flagg and the Blue Devils swarmed the perimeter, contesting looks that felt wide open against BYU, and Alabama’s shooters struggled to rediscover that effortless groove. Flagg, with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and relentless defensive pressure, embodied Duke’s edge, while Kon Knueppel’s game-high 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting showed how the Blue Devils capitalized on Alabama’s fatigue. Sears, the hero of the Sweet 16, looked human again—held to just 6 points on 2-of-12 shooting, a stark drop from his 34-point explosion. Duke’s defense zeroed in on him, forcing tougher angles and draining the magic that fueled his 10-three outburst.

This Flow State Comedown isn’t just about missing shots; it’s about the energy spent in that last game catching up. Alabama’s 25% from deep and 35.4% overall reflect a team that might’ve peaked too soon, expending their physical and psychological reserves. Duke, by contrast, stayed composed—limiting turnovers (13) and pounding the paint (outscoring Alabama by double digits there), proving that their balance and recovery outmatched Alabama’s spent momentum.

Alabama Men’s Basketball suffers the dreaded Flow State Comedown in their Elite 8 match-up against a dominant Duke.

Somatic Modalities: Sustaining Flow and Preventing the Drop-Off

What we saw from Alabama last night doesn’t have to be the norm. Somatic modalities—practices like breathwork, mindfulness-based movement, and body awareness techniques—can not only promote Flow State but also prevent these dramatic energetic drop-offs. Flow State thrives on a harmony of mind and body: relaxed focus, efficient energy use, and a nervous system primed for peak performance. Alabama’s Sweet 16 masterpiece showed that synergy, but the Elite 8 exposed what happens when the tank runs dry. Somatic practices build resilience by regulating the body’s stress response and optimizing recovery, offering a bridge between those euphoric highs and the crashes that follow. Breathwork, for instance, can reset the nervous system post-game, reducing cortisol spikes that sap energy after a high like BYU, while techniques like progressive muscle relaxation or yoga could’ve kept Alabama’s shooters’ legs fresher, countering the physical toll of 51 three-point attempts. Mindfulness training sharpens mental stamina, helping players like Sears stay present under Duke’s pressure rather than chasing the ghost of a prior peak.

Take Steph Curry, a Flow State anomaly who’s redefined what’s possible night after night. Known for using tools like meditation and visualization, Curry doesn’t just tap into flow—he sustains it, lifting the ceiling on peak performance. His 60-point outbursts or 11-three barrages aren’t followed by the kind of collapse Alabama suffered; instead, he’s back the next game, still splashing 40-footers with that signature calm. Meditation keeps his mind clear, grounding him amid chaos, while his somatic warm-ups—dynamic stretching and breath control—preserve his body’s efficiency, even on back-to-backs. Contrast that with Alabama’s 8-of-32 stumble: Curry’s somatic toolkit prevents the energetic drop-offs that left the Tide’s shooters flat. Teams that integrate these tools—like NBA squads using meditation or European soccer clubs leaning on somatic coaching—sustain that “unstoppable” feeling across grueling schedules, avoiding the crash Alabama couldn’t escape. For the Tide, tapping into somatic work might’ve bridged the gap between their flow and their fall, keeping the magic alive just one game longer—and maybe even turning them into a Curry-like force that defies the comedown.

Takeaway

Alabama’s Flow State Comedown against Duke shows how even the highest highs can crash without the right tools to sustain them—yet it’s a fate athletes and teams can avoid. Somatic modalities, like those powering Steph Curry’s relentless flow, nurture peak performance and prevent those energetic drop-offs by harmonizing mind and body for the long haul. Don’t let your next big moment fall victim to an unnecessary comedown.

Want to unlock that sustained edge for yourself or your squad? Reach out to me and my team—we’ll get you set up with somatic strategies and all the tools you need to keep your flow alive, game after game.

Metta,

Drewsome.