Alabama basketball will have the whole country tuned in when it welcomes the Auburn Tigers in the first one vs. two game in the AP poll for the first time since 2008. Read more for a complete Alabama vs Auburn prediction and preview.
Alabama basketball is coming off a 103-80 win over Texas on the road. The team had a much better second half to the game than against Arkansas. In what is the hardest ticket to find in Coleman Coliseum’s 57-year history, with the average price to get in at upwards of 300$ as the Crimson Tide welcome the team from the southeast side of the state in the Auburn Tigers, who have been the nation’s top-ranked team all season long.
This will be the first ever one versus two matchup in SEC play and College Gameday.
“We’re not interested in winning a boxing match, a football game, or a wrestling match. The points scored are scored for the ball going through the rim,” said head coach Nate Oats.
Game Information:
Teams: Alabama (22-3, 10-1) and Auburn (22-2, 10-1)
Tip-Off: 3 p.m. CST
Watch: ESPN
Listen: Tide 100.9
Latest on Auburn basketball:
The Auburn Tigers are entering year 11 under Bruce Pearl. The Tigers are off to a 22-2 start and have been on a dominant run this season after losing to Yale in the Round of 64 last year.
So far this season, the Tigers have 13 quadrant one wins, which is the most in the country by a wide margin. Its best win in nonconference came over Iowa State in Maui. In conference play, it has faced adversity with losing National Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome for two games but has continued to stack wins. Most recently, the Tigers defeated Vanderbilt in an 80-68 win, and transfer guard Denver Jones led the way with 21 points on 7-10 shooting after struggling the past couple of games.
The Tigers have six scorers who average double-figures: Broome, Chad Baker-Mazara, Freshman Tahaad Pettiford, Georgia Tech transfer Miles Kelly, and Chaney Johnson.
Broome is leading the team in scoring, averaging 18.1 PPG this season. Broome also leads the team on the glass, averaging 10.7 RPG, and has a double-double in 16 24 games. Broome leads the team in assists, averaging 3.3 APG.
Per KenPom, the Tigers are ranked 1st in offensive efficiency numbers and just outside the top 10 at 12th in defensive efficiency. The team is the first-ranked team in its conference rankings by the numbers. The team averages around 84.8 PPG and shoots 37.2% from the three-point line.
Latest on Alabama basketball:
Alabama is entering the game riding a seven-game winning streak. The Tide is now entering its most challenging game stretch to finish the regular season before March.
Aden Holloway played at Auburn last season and will face adversity, but has been money off the bench for the Tide and had 18 points against Texas.
“It’ll be a big game for him. He’s pretty relaxed. He doesn’t turn the ball over much. I don’t anticipate him doing anything crazy; he’ll be ready to play,” said Oats.
Derrion Reid is questionable for the game tomorrow.
“Derrion has finally been able to do some live stuff and looks better than he has in the last month or so,” said Oats.
Mark Sears and Grant Nelson both have had turnover problems lately and as a team, the Tide will have to be as efficient as possible and protect the ball in a game that will most likely be decided in the last few minutes.
Defensively, Alabama’s bigs will have to match up and be physical against Dylan Cardwell and Broome. They will also have to limit the Tigers off the glass, push the tempo, and make Auburn’s run.
Alabama will have to carry the momentum from the last game from behind the arc, where the team shot over 58 percent from the outside.
Sears still leads the team, averaging 17.8 PPG on the season. Grant Nelson continues to be a force around the glass in the rebounding department, averaging 8.1 RPG. Sears leads the team in assists at 4.9 APG, whereas the team averages 17.0 APG.
Per KenPom, Alabama remains in the top three and 2nd in offensive efficiency. On the defensive end, the team has an efficiency ranking of 40, Alabama is averaging 90.5 PPG while shooting 34.4% from three.
Alabama vs Auburn prediction: Crimson Tide by 5
Alabama will lean on its crowd in what will be a high-intensity game. With the game on the line, the Tide will hit the big-time perimeter shots when it matters most, slow down Auburn’s dominance, and edge out an 85-80 win.
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