Alabama is once again on the verge of rewriting history.
After tying the program record for most wins in a regular season, the Crimson Tide looks to break that mark on Saturday afternoon. To do so it would have to down a Missouri that beat Tennessee by eight points less than 24 hours earlier. While Alabama looks to punch its ticket to the SEC Championship Finals, a win over the Tigers would mark the first time since 2016-17 that they have defeated Missouri twice in a season.
Here’s everything you need to know about the game.
how to see
WHO: No. 2 Alabama (27-5) vs. Missouri (22-11)
When: Noon CT, Saturday, March 11
Where: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tennessee
Watch: ESPN (Play-by-Play: Karl Ravech; Analyst: Jimmy Dykes; Sideline: Marty Smith)
Hear: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-by-Play: Chris Stewart; Analyst: Brian Passink; Engineer Tom Stipe)
Alabama’s Projected Start
Jahvon Queenrly: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds, Sr.
Stats: 7.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 3.7 apg, 39.2% FG, 34.3% 3-pt
Mark Sears: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Jr.
Stats: 13.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 42.7% FG, 37.7% 3-pt
Brandon Miller: 6-foot-9, 200 pounds, freshman
Stats: 19.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.8 apg, 45.3% FG, 40.4% 3-pt
Noah the Clown: 6-foot-10, 210 pounds, freshman
Stats: 10.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 0.9 apg, 48.8% FG, 26.5% 3-pt
Charles Bediaco: 7 feet, 225 pounds, second class
Stats: 5.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.6 apg, 63.2% FG
Missouri’s Projected Starting Lineup
Nick Honor: 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, Sr.
Stats: 8.2 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 3.0 apg, 41.9% FG, 40.5% 3-pt
D’Moi Hodge: 6-foot-4, 188 pounds, Sr.
Stats: 14.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.6 apg, 46.9% FG, 39.6% 3-pt
Deandre Gholston: 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Sr.
Stats: 10.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 43.4% FG, 33.7% 3-pt
Mohammed Diarra: 6-foot-10, 215 pounds, Jr.
Stats: 3.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 0.6 apg, 45.3% FG, 30.8% 3-pt
Kobe Brown: 6-foot-8, 250 pounds, Sr.
Stats: 16.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 55.8% FG, 45.5% 3-pt
Gurley continues his grind
There is something to be said about a player who is ready to go even when he doesn’t get playing time.
Noah Gurley has done that for Alabama all season, averaging 14.8 minutes per game, but he’s gone past that average just four times in SEC play. Lately, the senior has seen his playing time increase, playing 10 minutes or less in six of the last seven games.
Regardless, Gurley remained committed to the team, just biding his time. On Friday, he was rewarded by scoring 11 points on 4 of 6 shooting in 21 minutes.
“We talked about his leadership all year long, I think you see it,” Oates said. “Having some DNP at the end of the year for the fifth-year senior was a big contributor, started a lot of games last year, mentally prepared myself to come and go.
“This is a team that plays big. Cam Matthews is the more traditional four man. We decided to go big four more times with Gurley. Had great practice, he was ready to go. I think he’s going to make our team To be honest with you. Incredible culture of guys just caring about their teammates. He’s continued to lead, never patted. We needed him today.
While his contributions were needed, Gurley was 3-for-4 from behind the arc which increased the team’s 3-point shooting percentage to over 35%. He also had a 92 effective field goal percentage, second on the team behind Dom Welch, who went 1-for-1 before suffering a tailbone injury.
Oates said, “He just stuck with it, led the team as a leader, stayed in the gym, worked his tail off.” “I mean, I was in the training room two days ago. He came to practice, sweating it out, probably three, four hours after practice was over. I said, ‘What are you doing?’ He was drenched. He said, ‘I just did a shooting workout.’ This is a kid who never dropped his head, never pouted. A kid with a real high character. All of our kids are kids with high character. But he’s the top one, and I’m really happy for him.
rematch with kobe brown
Saturday’s rematch means a second meeting with Huntsville Alabama native Kobe Brown.
The 6-foot-8 senior has led Missouri in averaging a team-high 16.2 points per game all season and added 6.3 rebounds per game. Alabama did not get a chance to face Brown during the regular season as he was nursing an ankle injury. Since his return to the floor, however, he has scored in double digits in all but three games, including a 24-point performance against Tennessee on Friday.
Oates said in January, “I wasn’t here when he was recruiting out of high school, so I’m not taking any responsibility for not recruiting him.” “Maybe you can keep him in there so he doesn’t take it out on me. I would love to have him on this team. You can tell how good he is.”
“He shoots a 3-pointer well, he’s big and strong and he finishes when he gets to the rim. He’s really one of those matchup guys. He gets better every year like He’s been handling the ball better since he came in. He doesn’t have many flaws in his game.”