Men's Basketball Faces No. 2 Kentucky on CBS
1/20/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Alabama Basketball Preview - Alabama at No. 2 Kentucky
Alabama 13-5 (2-2 SEC) at. Kentucky 18-1 (4-0 SEC)
Crimson Tide Basketball Central
Basketball Home | Season Statistics | Roster | Media Guide | TideTV - Watch the games online! | SEC Basketball | NCAA BasketballJan. 20, 2012
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
The University of Alabama men's basketball takes to the road for the third straight Saturday as it visits No. 2/2 Kentucky. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST on CBS and on radio via the affiliates of the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
Saturday's contest will feature the top two defenses in the Southeastern Conference with Alabama and Kentucky allowing just 56.4 and 59.1 points per game, respectively. However, UK also boasts the league's second best offense as the Wildcats feature five players averaging double-digit scoring while the team averages 79.6 points per game.
"They've got a very long, physical and quick team," UA head coach Anthony Grant said of Kentucky. "We have to make sure we do a good job taking care of the basketball and making sure that we can limit their opportunities to get easy baskets through what they create with their defense. I think they have done a great job this year of having a defense and great offense."
The Crimson Tide is coming off back-to-back losses following a 69-59 loss at home to Vanderbilt to fall to 13-5 overall and 2-2 in the SEC. Kentucky continues its two-game homestand after an 86-63 win over Arkansas on Tuesday evening. The win improved the Wildcats to 18-1 overall and a sterling 4-0 in the SEC.
Trevor Releford has led Alabama in scoring in five of the last seven games and is averaging 15.3 points per game on 43-of-72 shooting (7-of-19 from three-point) with 20 assists and 21 steals during that span. Against Vanderbilt, he scored 14 points with a career-high six steals. Tony Mitchell and JaMychal Green lead the team in scoring this season with 13.7 points per game each and 7.5 and 6.7 rebounds per game, respectively.
Doron Lamb leads Kentucky's five players averaging double figures with 14.0 points per game. Anthony Davis follows with 13.8 points and national best 4.6 blocks per game.
UK leads the all-time series between the two teams by a 101-36 margin. However, UA won the last regular-season meeting between the two teams in Tuscaloosa last season.
