Alabama
LSU
Alabama Men’s Basketball Hosts LSU on Tuesday Night to Close Out Two-Game Homestand
2/12/2018 3:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tide and Tigers set to tip off at 8 p.m. CT on SEC Network
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama closes out its two-game homestand when it welcomes the LSU Tigers on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. CT. It marks the second meeting between the two teams this season. In the previous contest, the Tide captured a 74-66 victory over the Tigers in Baton Rouge, La., back on Jan. 13.
Most recently, Alabama captured its 16th victory of the season when it rolled to a 78-50 win over then-No. 15/14 Tennessee last Saturday night. The 28-point victory was the largest win over a team ranked in the Associated Press' top 15 in program history, topping a 27-point win over then-No. 3 Vanderbilt on Feb. 6, 1956 (won 88-61).
Three Alabama players scored in double figures against the Volunteers, led by junior forward Donta Hall who collected his fifth double-double of the season, finishing with team highs of 17 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. Freshman guard Collin Sexton added 16 points, five rebounds and four assists, while classmate John Petty added 14 points and four assists in the victory.
THE BROADCAST
• Tuesday's game will air on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) on the call.
• The radio broadcast can be found on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) on the call, with the pregame show beginning at 7 p.m. CT on the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
OPENING TIP
• Alabama and LSU will meet for the 179th time in program history, with the Tide leading the all-time series, 107-71. The 179 meetings marks the second-most games played against any single opponent, while the 107 wins by the Crimson Tide ranks as the third-highest number for wins against an opponent.
• The Tide leads the SEC in Quadrant 1 wins (6) and winning percentage (6-3, .667). Only five teams have more Q1 wins than UA: Villanova (9), Kansas (9), Xavier (8), North Carolina (7) and Virginia (7).
• In league games, Alabama ranks as the top defensive team in the SEC. Through 12 conference games, Alabama leads the league in scoring defense (64.4), field goal percentage defense (.387) and blocks per game (5.8), while ranking second in steals (7.3) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.288).
• Alabama owns a record of 5-1 against Associated Press top-25 teams, including having won five consecutive games over ranked opponents following the 78-50 win over then-No. 15 Tennessee. It's the first time in program history the Tide has won five games over AP top-25 teams in a single season, bettering the four ranked victories accomplished four other seasons (1982-83, 1986-87, 2001-02, 2015-16).
• With the win over then-No. 15 Tennessee, Alabama has now won five straight games over AP Top-25 opponents. In addition to the 78-50 win over the Volunteers, the Crimson Tide owns wins over then-No. 5 Texas A&M, then-No. 17 Auburn, then-No. 12 Oklahoma and then-No. 15 Tennessee this season. Alabama is 5-1 this season against ranked opposition, with the lone loss coming to then-No. 14 Minnesota back on Nov. 25 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Since Avery Johnson's arrive in Tuscaloosa, Alabama owns a record of 10-8 when facing an AP Top-25 team. Prior to his arrival, the Tide dropped 21 consecutive games to nationally-ranked opponents.
• Alabama has a record of 4-0 against teams ranked in the top 15 of the latest ESPN.com RPI rankings, with win over No. 5 Rhode Island, No. 7 Auburn, No. 13 Tennessee and No. 15 Texas A&M. Moreover, the Tide is 5-2 when facing teams in ESPN.com's top 25 RPI.
• The NCAA selection committee is no longer using top 50, top 100, 200 and 201 and above as dividing categories. Instead, the new terminology will be quadrants 1, 2, 3 and 4 – something the helps bolster the Tide's 2017-18 tournament resume. Quadrant 1 RPI wins include home 1-30; neutral 1-50; away 1-75. Quadrant 2 include home 31-75; neutral 51-100; away 76-135. Entering the LSU game, Alabama leads the SEC in Quadrant 1 wins (6) and winning percentage (6-3, .667). The Crimson Tide is tied for third in the lead in combine Quadrant 1 and Quadrant 2 victories (9).
• Alabama will begin a two-game road swing when it takes on the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT on CBS. It will mark the only meeting between the two teams this season.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
• Alabama captured its third victory over an AP top-25 team this season when it took down then-No. 15 Tennessee, 78-50, last Saturday night. It was the Tide's largest win over an AP top-15 team in program history and kept Alabama perfect against teams in the ESPN.com RPI top 15 (4-0).
• The Tide is averaging 73.3 points per game and outscoring the opposition by 5.0 points per contest (73.3-68.3). As a team, Alabama is connecting on 46.6 percent from the field and 32.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Tide owns +1.0 advantage on the boards, 36.7-35.7 per game. Additionally, Alabama ranks tied for first in the SEC and is sixth in the nation in blocked shots per game (6.0).
• In addition to blocking shots, the Alabama defense is allowing opponents to shoot 40.6 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from deep, while also averaging 6.9 steals a contest.
• In league games, Alabama ranks as the top defensive teams in the SEC. Through 12 conference games, Alabama leads the league in scoring defense (64.4), field goal percentage defense (.387) and blocks per game (5.8), while ranking second in steals (7.3) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.288).
• The Tide ranks 10th in the SEC in league games only in free throw percentage at 71.2 percent, which is an improvement from shooting 67.8 percent at the line for the season during the entire season, which ranks 13th in the SEC. Furthermore, Alabama ranks 50th nationally in free throws attempted (571) and is 93rd in the nation in free throws made (387). In fact, just over 21 percent of Alabama's point total (387 of 1,832 points) has come from the charity stripe.
• Four players are averaging double-figure scoring for the Tide, led by freshman Collin Sexton's 18.5 ppg. That number not only tops the team, but also ranks third in the SEC and 87th nationally. Sexton also tops the team in assists (3.4 apg) and field goals made (127) and attempted (292). Freshman John Petty ranks third on the team with 10.8 ppg and tops UA in threes made (64) and attempted (173), while his 2.6 treys made per game is four-best in the SEC.
• Junior Donta Hall leads the Tide in field goal percentage (.742, 112-of-151), which would lead the country but he's just shy of meeting the minimum requirement of 5.0 or more field goals made per game (Hall is at 4.67 made per game). Hall also tops the team in dunks (55), rebounds (7.1 rpg) and blocks (2.3 bpg), while ranking second with 11.0 points per game. Sophomore guard Dazon Ingram is averaging 10.1 ppg, and ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.0 rpg) and assists (2.8 apg) a game. Meanwhile, Ingram's 5.3 defensive rebounds per contest is second-best in the SEC.
SCOUTING LSU
• LSU and Alabama will meet for the 179th time in program history, with the Tide leading the all-time series, 107-71. The 179 meetings marks the second-highest games played against any single opponent, while the 107 wins by the Crimson Tide rank as the third-highest number for wins against an opponent. Alabama has played Mississippi State 197 times for 122 wins which ranks first in the record books, while the 120 wins against Ole Miss rank second.
• Will Wade was named the 22nd head men's basketball coach at LSU on March 20, 2017. He came to LSU after a two-year stint as the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University with four years of experience as a head basketball coach. Wade, one of the youngest coaches in Division I at 34, directed VCU to a 51-20 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances the last two seasons. Wade, who spent two seasons at the helm of the Chattanooga men's basketball program from 2013-15, has a career record of 105-55 (.656).
• Freshman Tremont Waters, who was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Jan. 11, comes into the game leading the league lead in assists (6.0) and steals (2.1) per game, while averaging a team-best 14.9 points per contest which ranks 13th in the league. He is one of three LSU players to average double figures, joining senior Duop Reath (14.2 ppg) and sophomore Skylar Mays (11.0 ppg). In SEC play, Reath tops the team in points (16.5 ppg), rebounds (6.1) and three-point field goal percentage (.417).
• LSU comes into Tuesday's game ranked the SEC in field goal percentage (.483) and steals per game (7.3), while ranking third in scoring (78.2 ppg). The Tigers are also fifth in the SEC in both turnover margin (+2.1) and assist/turnover ratio (1.2). However, LSU has struggled defensively, ranking 12th in points allowed (73.2) and 13th in field goal percentage defense (.449).
• In SEC play, the Tigers rank third in steals (6.6 spg) and turnover margin (+2.3), while ranking fourth in points (71.7 ppg) and assist (12.8 apg). LSU is the worst rebounding team in the conference during league play, getting outrebounded by an average of 6.0 rebounds per game (31.2-37.2).
ALABAMA-LSU – SERIES NOTES
• Alabama and LSU will meet for the 179th time in series history in a series that began during the 1915-16 season.
• Tuesday's game will mark the second meeting between the two squads this season. The two teams squared off back on Jan. 13, 2018 in Baton Rouge, La., with the Tide taking a 74-66 victory. The recap and box score from that game can be found on page 11.
• Following its victory earlier this year, the Tide has won four straight games in the series and now owns a 107-71 lead in the all-time series. The 179 meetings are the second-most Alabama has played against any single opponent, while the 107 wins rank as third best against any foe.
• Last season, Alabama won both contests. The Tide won 81-66 in Baton Rouge, La., on Jan. 14, 2017 and followed that with a 90-72 triumph in Coleman Coliseum on Feb, 18, 2017. It was first season sweep for Alabama since the 2010-11 campaign.
• Alabama and LSU have played in 10 overtime games in series history, including two triple overtime contests (2/10/90 & 2/23/13) and a quadruple overtime contest (2/12/72) – on of only two four-overtime game in school history. Alabama has an impressive 8-2 record when it has played LSU in overtime.
• Four of the last 10 games played between the two teams have been decided by three or fewer points, while seven of the last 11 have been decided by less than 10 points.
TOPPLING THE TOP 25
• Alabama head coach Avery Johnson has led his teams to success when playing against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 during his three seasons at the Capstone.
• This season alone, the Crimson Tide boasts a record of 5-1 against Top-25 teams, including five consecutive wins over ranked opponents. Alabama has toppled then-No. 5 Texas A&M (79-57 on Dec. 30), then-No. 17 Auburn (76-71 on Jan. 17), then-No. 12 Oklahoma (80-73 on Jan. 27) and then-No. 23 Florida (68-50 on Feb. 3) and then-No. 15 Tennessee (78-50 on Feb. 10).
• The five wins over ranked opponents in a single season is a new program record. This year's record mark topped the four victories over ranked foes which was set in four different seasons (1981-82, 1986-87, 2001-02 and 2015-16).
• In 18 total games played against teams ranked in the AP Top 25, Johnson has led the Tide to a record of 10-8. That's a huge improvement, especially considering prior his arrival, Alabama had lost 21 consecutive games to nationally-ranked opponents.
ALABAMA'S TOURNAMENT RESUME CONTINUES TO LOOK STRONG
• The Crimson Tide comes into the final full month of the season boasting a quality NCAA Tournament resume after 24 games played this season.
• Alabama is a perfect 2-0 against teams ranked in the top 10 of the RPI, defeating Rhode Island (No. 5) and Auburn (No. 8). Furthermore, the Tide boasts a 4-1 record against top-20 RPI teams with the victories over Oklahoma (No. 18) and Texas A&M (No. 18). The Crimson Tide owns a 6-4 record vs. ESPN.com's top-50 RPI and is 9-7 when playing teams ranked in the RPI top 100.
• The Tide is 4-1 this season when playing a team ranked in the Associated Press Top-25 and has won four consecutive contests against Top-25 opponents.
• According to the NCAA's Quadrant win-loss system, Alabama owns six quadrant one victories (6-3) and leads the Southeastern Conference in both Q1 wins and Q1 winning percentage. In addition, the Crimson Tide boasts nine combined victories against Quadrant 1 and Quadrant 2 teams, which is tied for third-most in the league.
• According to ESPN.com's latest RPI rankings (as of Feb. 11), the Tide checks in at No. 31 in the nation and boasts the No. 13 overall strength of schedule and the No. 26 non-conference strength of schedule. WarrenNolan.com ranks the Tide No. 33 in its RPI with the No. 10 overall strength of schedule. Meanwhile, CBSsports.com rates the Tide at No. 33 in the RPI, boasting the No. 22 non-conference strength of schedule and the No. 15 overall SOS.
• Alabama is receiving votes in both polls this week and has been receiving votes to be ranked in all but three weeks of the season, and was ranked as high as No. 24 nationally by the AP poll (week 4).
• Alabama was rated No. 24 by Blue Ribbon's Preseason Top 25, while NBC Sports ranked Alabama No. 23 nationally in its preseason rankings.
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