The Alabama Crimson Tide is back home for the second consecutive game and will look to win its third game in a row in hosting the LSU Tigers inside Coleman Coliseum. Read more for a complete Alabama vs LSU prediction and preview.
Alabama basketball is coming off hitting 100 points in back-to-back games in a 103-87 win over Vanderbilt. It will welcome in the LSU Tigers, who Alabama has owned. Alabama has won the last four matchups between the two teams and is 9-1 in the previous 10 games.
“We’re gonna have to see how mature we are to see what kind of effort we bring for the entire 40 minutes tomorrow,” said head coach Nate Oats.
Game Information:
Teams: Alabama (15-3, 4-1) and LSU (15-3, 3-2)
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. CST ( 8:30 EST)
Where to Watch: SEC Network
How to Listen: Tide 100.9
Latest on LSU Basketball:
The LSU Tigers are entering year three under Matt McMahon, who was at Murray State before arriving in Baton Rouge in 2022. The Tigers are off to a 12-6 start but have struggled in SEC play with a 1-4 start.
So far this season, LSU’s marquee victories in non-conference play came in wins over UCF 109-102 and Florida State 85-75. So far in SEC play, it has lost four out of five and most recently lost on the road to Texas A&M in a 68-57 loss, where Kansas State transfer Cam Carter had 16 points and UT Martin transfer Jordan Sears had 11 points.
The Tigers have four guys who average double figures: Carter, Sears, Jalen Reed, and Freshman Vyctorius Miller.
This season, Carter leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.6 PPG. Freshman forward Corey Chest leads the Tigers on the glass, averaging 6.9 RPG as a 6″8 wing. Sears leads the team, averaging 2.7 APG.
The Tigers run a nine-man rotation, with all nine guys averaging double-digit minutes every game.
Per KenPom, the Tigers are ranked 102nd in offensive efficiency numbers and just outside the top 50 at 52nd in defensive efficiency. The team is the 15th-ranked team in its conference in the rankings by the numbers. The team averages around 79.7 PPG and shoots 31.7% from the three-point line.
Last year, LSU finished 17-16 (9-9 in conference play).
Latest on Alabama Basketball:
Alabama is coming off another big offensive game at home with 103 points. Mark Sears surpassed 2,500 points in college, and Aden Holloway led the team in scoring with 22 points alongside Mouhamed Dioubate.
Derrion Reid has yet to be back from injury and remains questionable for the game.
“He’s still not full-go in practice, and my guess is he will probably be listed as questionable for the game,” said Oats.
Dioubate is becoming more and more of a threat to score the ball, especially around the rim, and is continuing to get more and more minutes.
Holloway has been a sharpshooter for the Tide ever since SEC play started shooting 57% from three.
Sears continues to lead the team in scoring and is up to 19.0 PPG on the season after finishing with 21 points in the last game. Nelson continues to be a force around the glass in the rebounding department, now having seven games with double-digit rebounds and averaging 8.7 RPG. Sears leads the team in assists at 4.9 APG, whereas the team averages 17.1 APG.
Per KenPom, Alabama is back in the top two at 2 in offensive efficiency. On the defensive end, the team has an efficiency ranking of 45, down 2 spots from the last game. Alabama is averaging 90.9 PPG while shooting 32.5% from three. The Tide continues to lead the country in points per game.
The Tide is looking to medical redshirt Houston Mallette for the rest of this season.
Alabama vs LSU prediction: Crimson Tide by 18
Alabama will be in for a big game offensively and will win 95-77, but I would not be shocked if the Tide hit the century mark yet again.