No. 6/7 Alabama Ready for Rematch with Mississippi State Saturday Night

2/26/2021 1:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs will tip off at 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 6/7 Alabama will travel to Starkville, Miss., to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network. It marks the second time the two teams will meet on the hardwood this season. In the first meeting, the Crimson Tide used a late rally to defeat the Bulldogs 81-73, in Tuscaloosa back on Jan. 23.

Alabama (18-6) enters the game with an 13-2 record against league competition which marks the sixth-most conference wins in program history. With just one more league victory, the Crimson Tide will win its first regular season title since 2002 – a span of 19 years. Currently, UA owns a 2.5-game lead on the league with three games remaining.

In its previous contest, the Crimson Tide dropped an 81-66 decision at No. 20/20 Arkansas last Wednesday night. The Razorbacks used a 17-2 run that lasted nearly eight minutes of the second half that turned a 45-39 Alabama lead into a 56-47 deficit with just over 10 minutes remaining. The Razorbacks had a huge advantage at the charity stripe, going 27-of-43 from the foul line, including 16-of-25 in the second half alone, compared to the Tide going 3-of-8 which helped prevent any chance of a comeback.

The Broadcast

Saturday's game will be available on SEC Network with Paul Sunderland (play-by-play) and Joe Kleine (analyst) on the call.
The radio broadcast can be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart (play-by-play), Bryan Passink (analyst) and Roger Hoover (sideline) on the call. The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

Team Notes

Nationally, Alabama leads the nation in three-point field goals made with 261 entering Saturday's game at Mississippi State (as of Feb. 25). Additionally, the Crimson Tide ranks second in the NCAA in three-pointers attempted (727) and third in threes made per game (10.9) . Furthermore, the Tide is also second nationally in average possession length on offense (14.0) and eighth in the nation in adjusted tempo (74.2 possessions per game).
According to the Ken Pomeroy ratings (as of 2/22), Alabama owns the nation's No. 4-ranked defense entering its contest at Mississippi State. Last year, the Tide was rated by the same site at No. 114 in the category. Alabama is also No. 29 in offensive efficiency, making it one of 10 teams in the nation to rank in the top 30 in both offense and defense efficiency, according to the site.
Herbert Jones is one of 10 players nationally who was named to the 2021 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist, the Atlanta Tip Off Club announced on Thursday. Jones anchors the nation's fourth-ranked defense in terms of defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. He currently leads the team in rebounding (5.7 rpg), steals (1.7 spg), charges taken (12), deflections (80), floor dives (16) and blocked shots (25 total, 1.1 bpg).
Five UA players shoot better than 40-percent from beyond the arc in SEC play. Two players are above 50-percent shooting in Herbert Jones, who leads the way at 54.2 percent (13-of-24), followed by Jahvon Quinerly's 52.9 percent (27-of-51). Joshua Primo (45.2 percent, 28-of-62), John Petty Jr. (44.8 percent, 43-of-96) and Keon Ellis (44.8 percent, 13-of-29) are all above 40 percent shooting from deep in league contests.
In league games only, UA's defense is the most efficient in the SEC, ranking first in field goal percentage defense (.393), three-point field goal percentage defense (.257) and defensive rebounds (29.2), ranks third in steals (8.5) and sixth in scoring defense (71.1). Offensively, UA leads the league in scoring offense (83.4), scoring margin (+12.3), three-point shooting (.389), threes made per game (11.9) and rebounding offense (40.6).
The Crimson Tide is ranked No. 9 in the NCAA NET rankings (as of 2/25) which leads all SEC teams. Alabama is also projected by ESPN's Joe Lunardi as a No. 2 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, which would match the program's highest NCAA Tourney seed (No. 2 seed in 2002). The Tide owns six Quad 1 wins (6-4) which ranks third-most in the NCAA, trailing only Ohio State which has nine, while Illinois and Gonzaga each has seven. Alabama of five SEC teams ranked among the top 30, which also includes No. 16 Tennessee, No. 21 Arkansas, No. 27 Florida and No. 29 LSU. UA owns a combined record of 12-5 against Quad 1 (6-4) and Quad 2 (6-1) opponents.
Forward Herbert Jones is one of 10 players who have been tabbed as a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist, which was announced on Feb. 25. Additionally, he is one of 30 players across the nation who was named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason Team. He is one of just four other players across the country who were named to both Watch Lists (Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky; Davion Mitchell, Baylor and Evan Mobley, USC).
In conference games only, Alabama leads the SEC in five separate offensive categories. The Tide ranks No. 1 in the league in scoring offense (83.4), scoring margin (+12.3), three-point field goal percentage (.389), threes made per game (11.9) and rebounding offense (40.6).
Alabama also owns the league's most efficient defense in conference play. The Crimson Tide ranks first in the league in field goal percentage defense (.393), three-point field goal percentage defense (.257) and defensive rebounding (29.2), while ranking third in steals (8.5).

About Alabama

Alabama enters its contest at Mississippi State atop the league standings at 13-2, 2.5 games ahead of Arkansas (10-4) with three games remaining in the regular season. Most recently, the Crimson Tide dropped an 81-66 decision at No. 20/20 Arkansas this past Wednesday night. The loss dropped UA to 18-6 overall and snapped a three-game winning streak in league play. UA's 13 league victories are tied for the sixth-most in a single season in the school record books, three shy of matching the record SEC wins in a season which was set in 1987 (16-2).
Four Crimson Tide players are averaging 11.0 or more points per game for head coach Nate Oats on the season. Guard Jaden Shackelford leads the way, averaging 14.1 ppg. Guard John Petty Jr. ranks second on the team in scoring average at 13.0 ppg, followed by guard Jahvon Quinerly (11.8 ppg) and forward Herbert Jones (11.4 ppg).
Jones, considered one of the top defensive players in the SEC, is one of 10 players from around the nation who have been named as a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist. He was also tabbed to the Naismith Offensive Player of the Year Midseason team making him one of four players who earned a spot on both teams. Jones leads the team in rebounding (5.7 rpg), assists (3.0 apg), steals (1.7 spg), blocks (25, 1.1 bpg), Blue Collar Points (479, 20.0 BCP per game), charges taken (12), deflections (81), floor dives (16) and Hard Hat Awards (12). He also boasts much improved offensive numbers during his senior season. In addition to averaging double digits, Jones is shooting 46.4 percent from the field (91-of-196) and leads the team in three-point shooting (52.6 percent, 20-of-38).
The combination of Petty (58-of-149) and Shackelford (41-of-128) have combined to hit 99 of the Tide's 261 three-pointers (37.9 percent) and have 277 of the team's 727 total attempts from beyond the arc (38.1 percent). Combined, the duo is shooting 35.7 percent (99-of-277) from beyond the arc.
As a team, Alabama is outscoring the opposition by 9.3 points per contest (80.3-70.9) while shooting 43.4 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from deep and 71.5 percent from the charity stripe.
It's UA's defense that has set the tone in SEC play. UA leads the league in defensive efficiency, ranking first in field goal percentage defense (39.2 percent) and three-point field goal percentage defense (25.7 percent), while ranking third in steals (8.5) and sixth in scoring defense (70.7).
This season, the Tide welcomed back four starters and five of its top seven scorers off last year's team, three were named as All-SEC performers a year ago. Petty (Second Team All-SEC), Shackelford (All-Freshman) and Jones (All-Defensive) all earned a spot on the postseason teams. Both Petty and Jones tested the NBA waters, with Petty, who was one of the last players to withdraw his name, announcing his return in early August and Jones in mid-June.
Alabama was predicted to finish fifth overall as voted on by a select panel of both SEC and national media members. Additionally, Petty All-SEC Preseason First Team honors by both the coaches and media members, while Jones earned a spot on the preseason second team as voted on by the league's head coaches.
Head coach Nate Oats is in his second season at the helm of the Crimson Tide program and owns a record of 34-21 (.618) during his time at the Capstone. Oats, who is in his sixth season as a collegiate head coach, owns a career record of 130-64 (.670).

About Mississippi State

Mississippi State enters the contest sporting a 13-11 overall record on the season and a 7-8 mark in league play. The Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest having one back-to-back games with a 66-56 win at Ole Miss on Feb. 20 and most recently taking down South Carolina, 69-48, last Wednesday night. With the wins, Mississippi State moved into a ninth place in the league standings entering the final three games of SEC play.
The Bulldogs are led by the league's top scoring duo in guards D.J. Stewart Jr. (16.6 ppg) and Iverson Molinar (16.5 ppg), who combine to score an average of 33.1 points per game. Stewart leads Mississippi State in assists (2.8 apg), steals (1.5 spg), minutes (34.8), threes made (37) and attempted (103) and field goals made (144) and attempted (334). Meanwhile, Molinar tops the team in three-point field goal percentage (46.2 percent, 30-of-65) and free throw percentage (.824).
Forward Tolu Smith also contributes on the offensive end, collecting 12.6 points per game while topping MSU with rebounding (8.5) and field goal percentage (58.8 percent). Former Alabama forward and transfer Javian Davis has played in 20 contests this season and is averaging 3.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per contest.
As a team, Mississippi State leads the league in rebounding margin at +7.5 (38.8-31.3) which ranks 23rd nationally and is just behind the Tide in three-point shooting percentage at 35.8 percent. Additionally, the Bulldogs are 36th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game (12.3) and 32nd nationally in blocked shots per game (4.6). For the year, MSU is outscoring the competition by +4.5 points per game (70.1-65.6), while shooting 45.5 percent from the field.
In SEC play, the Bulldogs rank third in scoring defense (67.4) and field goal percentage defense (.414) while ranking fifth in three-point field goal percentage defense (.329). Mississippi State leads the league in rebounding margin (+5.1, 37.5-32.4) and rebounding defense (32.4) while scoring 66.9 points a game.
Ben Howland, who is in his sixth season at the helm of the program. In four different stints as a head coach, Howland has a 512-283 (.644) record – Northern Arizona (79-59), Pittsburgh (89-40), UCLA (233-107) and Mississippi State (111-77, .590). He led UCLA to three-consecutive Final Fours, including a national runner-up finish in 2006.

Alabama-Mississippi State – Series Notes

Alabama and Mississippi State will meet for the 205th time in series history, and the second time this season, when the teams square off on Saturday night in Starkville, Miss. The Tide captured an 81-73 victory in the first meeting this season, which was played back on Jan. 23 in Coleman Coliseum. UA owns a 127-77 edge in the all-time series, including wins in 11 of the last 14 contests played between the two teams
Both the 204 games played and the 127 wins against Mississippi State marks the most for Alabama against any single opponent in each category in program history.
Despite Alabama's recent dominance in the series, the teams have split its season series in each of the last three years, with each team winning on its home floor. The Tide had captured wins over the Bulldogs in 10 of previous 11 games prior to the recent 4-3 stretch.
Alabama has lost three consecutive games against Mississippi State at Humphrey Coliseum. Prior to its three-game losing skid in Starkville, the Tide had won four-straight games in Starkville In all, Alabama fell to 40-57 in all-time games played in Starkville, Miss.
Coming into Saturday's game, Alabama has been the dominant team in the series. Dating back to the 2011-12 season, the Crimson Tide has claimed victory in 17 of the last 23 games played between the long-time rivals.
The series, which first began during the 1912-13 season, has seen 14 overtime contests including the 2008-09 season's double-overtime affair. The Tide owns an 8-6 lead in such games.
Sixty-six of the meetings have been decided by five or fewer points.

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