The Alabama Crimson Tide is hosting the Bulldogs and looks to complete the sweep with the Tide playing its fourth straight top-25 game and the second to last home game inside Coleman Coliseum. Read more for a complete Alabama vs Mississippi State Prediction and Preview.
Alabama basketball is coming off a big bounce-back performance in a 96-83 win over Kentucky on Saturday. The Tide have owned Mississippi State, winning the last seven matchups between the two teams, and they look to finish the last four games of the regular season strong.
Alabama won the first matchup between the two teams 88-84.
“We were really fortunate to win at their place, especially on the defensive end. We are giving up too many career highs to guys,” said head coach Nate Oats.
Game Information:
Teams: Alabama (22-5, 11-3) and Mississippi State (19-8, 7-7)
Tip-Off: 8 p.m. CST
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: Tide 100.9
Latest on Mississippi State Basketball:
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are entering year three under Chris Jans, who was at New Mexico State before arriving in Starkville in 2022. The Bulldogs are currently 19-8 and will make a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and have arguably Jan’s best roster he has had while at State.
So far this season, the Bulldogs’ marquee victories in non-conference play came in wins over Pittsburgh 90-57 and Memphis 79-66. So far in SEC play, it went 1-1 last week with a win over then-top-10 Texas A&M and a 93-87 loss on the road to Oklahoma. Josh Hubbard had another big game with 19 points; he also had 38 in the first game against the Tide, and Birmingham native Keshawn Murphy had 16 points off the bench.
The Bulldogs have three guys who average double figures: Hubbard, Claudell Harris Jr., and Murphy.
Hubbard is leading the team in scoring for a second straight season, averaging 17.9 PPG this season. Murphy leads the Bulldogs on the glass off the bench, averaging 7.5 RPG as a 6″10 big. Fifth-year Senior Cameron Matthews leads the team in assists, averaging 3.8 APG.
Per KenPom, the Bulldogs are ranked 25th in offensive efficiency numbers and just inside the top 30 at 29th in defensive efficiency. The team is the 9th-ranked team in its conference in the rankings by the numbers. The team averages around 79.3 PPG and shoots 31.7% from the three-point line.
Last year, Mississippi State finished 21-14 (8-10 in conference play) and was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament in the round of 64 against Michigan State.
Latest on Alabama Basketball:
Alabama is coming off a win in which Mark Sears had yet another 30-point game and was named SEC Player of the Week. Aden Holloway had another big game with 19 points, and another high volume of threes went up.
Derrion Reid will be out for tomorrow’s game and went to Birmingham to get a check from Dr. Lyle Cain, who looks to still be on track to return at some point whether regular season or for the NCAA Tournament..
“They thought He [Reid] looked good and is coming along,” said Oats on Reid’s injury.
Clifford Omoruyi is coming off his first double-double of the season and had 15 rebounds, which was the most on the season for the graduate transfer.
Chris Youngblood took over in the second half against Kentucky with 12 points and continues to be another consistent scoring option for the Tide.
Sears still leads the team, averaging 18.0 PPG during the season, and he is starting to play his best basketball of the season. Grant Nelson is starting to struggle but continues to lead the team in rebounding, averaging 8.4 RPG. Sears leads the team in assists at 4.8 APG, whereas the team averages 16.6 APG.
Per KenPom, Alabama is back in the top three in offensive efficiency, at third. On the defensive end, the team has an efficiency ranking of 45. Alabama is averaging 90.8 PPG while shooting 34.2% from three.
Alabama vs Mississippi State prediction: Crimson Tide by 10
Alabama will be in for a tough challenge on the glass. It will have to fend off the Bulldogs and win the rebounding battle. The Tide will have to slow down, Hubbard, and make other guys beat you. I think the Tide will win by 10 and get another win in front of the home crowd.
[…] basketball moved to 12-3 in the SEC with a 111-73 win over Mississippi State at home. It was the Tide’s best game on both sides of the ball all […]