After an absolutely awful initial fifty percent that likened back to the pathetic performance in Athens 2 years ago, the 24th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide 15-6, 7-1 SEC; NET: 7; Kenpom: 8) secured in this previous Wednesday and place on a leading second half to come from behind and beat the Georgia Bulldogs in the type of game that only teams with winning cultures can manage. The win kept the Tide alone at the top of the SEC standings as it looks to win the normal season title for the 3rd time in 4 years. Significant credit rating to Nate Oats and his new staff for making the needed changes and obtaining the team to rise over what can have been an easy mental block to get over that hardship and protect a win. Still, that initial fifty percent efficiency was revolting, and it simply goes to show that you can not take a night off in university basketball, specifically with just how solid the SEC has become over the brings us to the next game on Saturday evening, as the Tide invites in the Mississippi State Bulldogs 14-7, 3-5 SEC; WEB: 37; Kenpom: 33). The Dogs will certainly make the yearly trip up Highway 82 for the current installation in among the SEC's oldest competitions. Nate Oats has actually dominated this collection, leading the Bullies 9-2 given that he took control of the program. But it hasn't constantly been simple. State has constantly offered a fascinating obstacle as they are generally anti-Bama - a slow, grinding, large, physical group that wins with protection and rebounding and whose perimeter shots are more detailed to prayers than they are legit efforts at racking up year train Chris Jans is attempting to get the Bulldogs back right into the Large Dance in successive periods for the very first time since the height of the Rick Stansbury period, however in order to do so, State will need to reveal that it can win some big games far from home. They are directly on the bubble for the NCAA Event currently, in big component due to the fact that of the lack of success away from the Bulge in Starkville - 0-5 in true roadways, actually. So, they will be desperate ahead into Tuscaloosa and retaliate their earlier - and rare - home loss. Alabama requires to prevent having one more fifty percent like the one the group experienced the last time Last TimeErik covered the first conference for these two groups regarding a month back, and below's a little fragment of what he needed to claim: It is a testimony to Chris Jans' capacity that Mississippi State is also on the bubble at the minute. MSU WEB 28, Ken Pom 24), has to do with defense and only defense. The Bulldogs lead the SEC in factors allowed 63. 7 ), are 3rd in flooring capturing permitted, and 1st in 3P protection 27%) Justin Hill Jersey. And they in some way rebound even worse than Alabama, shoot a shocking 22% from the arc in SEC play, are the second-worst flooring capturing group in the meeting.. heck, they're even the worst complimentary toss shooting group in the SEC and get to the line the least of any type of are "led" offensively, by Josh Hubbard 15. 3 ), with everybody else chipping in 7-9 per game. It's not a deep bench, and if the beginners obtain in trouble, an already feeble 'State violation expands extra anemic than Lord Byron on a narcotic bender. There is a reason that they have some absolutely bad-to-mid losses to USCe, Georgia Technology and Southern: that 168th placed offense. But also why, when healthy and out of nasty difficulty, they can outhustle groups like Tennessee for victories: the country's purported 9th best appears like a lot of years Mississippi State has to win with monotonous, defense-first, enigma basketball. And the coach may have changed, but that's true again this season. It's a scrappy opponent that plays a great deal of close video games. Seriously, it doesn't also seem like Ben Howland left. It's not been an excellent routine, no Mac Smith Jersey. But you defeat who shows up, and you do it by requiring your rate of play. Like the 'Bama-Gamecocks tilt, the victor of this will certainly be the group that can dictate the can locate the full preview Erik placed with each other hereE definitely accomplished - the winner of the initial game was mosting likely to be the team that a) determined the tempo, b) dealt with the ball the very best, and c) made the tough shots down the stretch. To State's credit scores, they outrebounded the Trend by a board, had one much less turnover, and even shot surprisingly well from the arc 7/17). The difference however, is that Alabama had the ability to speed up the Bulldogs up and make a bunch of shots themselves, and eventually, it was the Tide's capacity to obtain to the line and tear down totally free throws 22/26 including six straight in the last 30 secs) that caused an 82-74 roadway win for the , Grant Nelson's protection was the unsung hero that evening - holding State's stud large male, Tolu Smith, to just 15 points on as several efforts and requiring the physical article into 5 turn overs. Mo Wague was out for this game, and Nick Pringle in some way got five fouls in six minutes. This was the birth of Nelson as an indoor protector, and he's because had the ability to reveal much better in that regard. Mark Sears had an additional dull 22-point getaway, and Latrell Wrightsell's 19 factors on 5/7 capturing from deep was Fight of Bully BallWe've seen enough of these matchups considering that Oats took control of to know specifically what to try to find at this moment. Primarily, if Mississippi State can slow the game down and lock-down the boundary, it's going to be a physical, down-to-the-wire brawl https://www.alabamastoreonline.com/Cole_Adams_Jersey. If Alabama can establish the pace and obtain enough open looks or trips to the nasty line, this might get awful for the Bulldogs. These two groups are presently the conference's worst when it comes to taking care of the basketball, so extra possessions and potential runouts will certainly be both crucial and most likely in huge supply tonight. State truly battles to place the round in the basket if you can keep in front of them - 269th in 3P% and 291st in feet% - so they merely do not have the juice to be able to equal Alabama if the Tide can stay as warm as the men have actually been at home just recently. Still, Chris Jans' group can play. You sort of need to look past their 3-5 record in SEC play, as they've had the hardest meeting timetable this season without a doubt - trip to South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, and Ole Miss with home turns against Tennessee, Auburn, Vandy, and of course, Alabama. They are rightfully in the mix for a return trip to the event, and they are certainly a far better group and a tougher stylistic match than the Dawgs of Georgia who nearly knocked off the Trend the various other bring the power every evening in this league, especially when the enemy is this acquainted. Alabama is provided as an 8. 5-point favored tonight. The video game will certainly tip-off at 7:30 PM CST and will certainly be aired on the SEC Network.

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