No. 7 Alabama (14-4) looks to stay unbeated in SEC play on Wednesday to host LSU (11-5) at Coleman Coliseum. The Tigers will look to avenge their Jan. 19 loss to the Tide.
LAST TIME OUT
In a battle of then top-2 teams in the SEC, Alabama nailed an SEC record 23 three-pointers in a 105-75 win over LSU on January 19 in Baton Rouge. The win was the second in-a-row where the Crimson Tide defeated their opponent by at least thirty points, and the third consecutive game where they defeated a conference opponent by at least twenty points.
The Crimson Tide opened the game by scoring their first six baskets from three-point territory. John Petty scored the first four, while Joshua Primo closed the run by scoring the final two. Alabama shot an impressive 73.7% (14-of-19) from beyond the arc in the first half to lead 60-32. Alabama would go on to secure 9 more three-pointers in the second half to close out the thirty-point win.
John Petty led all scoring with a season-high 24 points, all coming from three-point territory. Joshua Primo and Jahvon Quinerly recorded 22 points in the win for the Tide.
For LSU, Cameron Thomas led in scoring with 21, while Trenton Watford had 11 points and 8 rebounds.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE
In the three games since the Tide and Tigers clashed in the Bayou, Alabama extended their winning streak to 10 games before falling to no. 24 Oklahoma in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, 66-61, last Saturday.
The Crimson Tide earned two home wins, an 81-73 decision over Mississippi Stateon January 23, and knocked off Kentucky for the second time during the 2020-2021 season on January 26, 70-59.
Alabama’s impressive run was halted last Saturday. The Tide shot just shy of 39% from the field, and went scoreless from the field over the final 4:21 seconds in their loss to Oklahoma, 66-61. Alex Reese scored a season-high 15 points in the game.
LSU has gone 1-2 since the last meeting with Alabama, with their lone win coming on the road at Texas A&M on January 26, 78-66. The Tigers had four players reach double-digits on the scoresheet, led by Cameron Thomas’ 28.
Most recently, LSU had a five-point lead with 2:07 remaining in their game against Texas Tech last Saturday. The Red Raiders would go on a 12-0 run over the final minute to steal a win in Baton Rouge, 76-71.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
Alabama- Jaden Shackleford
While every component of Alabama’s offense has been majestic lately, it has been the consistency of Shackleford that has shown the brightest.
Shackleford has scored at least ten points in every contest since the January 19 game with LSU, including a 21-point game against Kentucky. If the Tide offense is rolling, chances are that Shackleford has a large hand in it.
LSU- Javontae Smart
Much like Shackleford for Alabama, Smart has been a very dependable tool for the Tiger offense, and a great compliment to Cameron Thomas, who averages 22.3 points per game. The Baton Rouge native has scored over 15 points in four out of the last five games, and has had three 20-point nights in SEC play. In the first meeting with Alabama, Smart scored 12 points, right behind Thomas’ 21.
The Crimson Tide look to extend their winning streak in SEC play to 10 games Wednesday when they host the LSU Tigers. ESPNU will provide televison coverage with Tom Hart and Dane Bradshaw on the call. Chris Stewart, Bryan Passink, and Roger Hoover will have the local broadcast on the Crimson Tide Sports Network. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 P.M. inside Coleman Coliseum.
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