Alabama vs. Ole Miss Basketball Preview

After rebounding against Arkansas last Saturday, Anthony Grant and the Crimson Tide look to continue in the right direction against Ole Miss. The Rebels have proved to be a tough matchup for the Tide in the past, and this game won’t be any different. Although Ole Miss isn’t considered to be among the elites in the SEC, they could easily take down any unprepared team.

Anthony Grant has stressed that his leaders have to step up for the Tide to be successful. This is one of those games where JaMychal Green, Tony Mitchell, and Andrew Steele will play a major role in leading the team. It was impressive to watch Andrew Steele lead the team at times last Saturday vs. Arkansas. In less than ten seconds, he scored on a fast break, forced a turnover, and split the defense for another lay-up. Steele is a great player to watch not only because of his leadership, but for his defensive intensity as well. No matter what defensive look Alabama brings, if Andrew Steele is on the floor, he is always moving!

JaMychal Green has settled down after drawing a technical foul and being benched by Coach Grant. It was interesting to watch Grant take out Green to make a statement. He knows that Alabama suffers when Green isn’t on the floor, but he sacrificed to teach his younger players. A very gutsy, but needed move by Coach Grant. JaMychal Green has to serve as the leader throughout the game for Alabama. He has been through so much in a Crimson and White jersey, and he has to share that experience with others. If JaMychal plays well and shows a good attitude, Alabama is in good shape.

Regarding Tony Mitchell: I have said it before; he is a highlight waiting to happen. Mitchell has proven time and again that he can jump through the roof, but he is a very streaky player. In the game last week vs. Arkansas, he scored on back-to-back possessions, then went quiet. Mitchell has to be a constant force in Alabama’s offense to open up other players. Green and Mitchell play major roles in opening up offensive opportunities for Trevor Lacey and Levi Randolph.

Ole Miss has proven that they can stick with the big boys. They only lost to Florida by a final of 64-60 in Oxford. Interestingly enough, both Alabama and Ole Miss share a non-conference loss, Dayton. Dayton handed both the Tide and the Rebels a 12-point loss. Also, Ole Miss pulled the upset at home over rival Mississippi by a final of 75-68. Keep in mind, Alabama had no answer for the Bulldogs and Arnett Moultrie. So, both teams seem to match up well if you look at their common opponents.

Alabama will once again have to stick to their typical style of play to get a win against the Rebels on Saturday night. Arkansas’ great perimeter attack gave Alabama some troubles in the early going, but it didn’t last for long. Ole Miss is built much more like Alabama; they look to run the floor at times, but they attempt to win the battle in the paint. JaMychal Green’s play on defense and on the boards will be just as important as his offensive input in this one.

This feels like a reoccurring topic, but Alabama has to limit turnovers. Stupid turnovers have hurt Alabama in the past, and it is really hard to win when you constantly lose the turnover battle. Trevor Releford and Trevor Lacey have to take care of the ball for the Tide. Tony Mitchell has also been a turnover machine as of late, and needs to work on his ball security to enable the Tide to keep turnovers to a minimum.

Finally, the man I like to call Alabama’s secret weapon, Andrew Steele. He is a tough senior that comes off the bench for Grant’s squad. Coach Grant knows he can rely on Steele down the stretch to lead the team, play good defense, and take care of the ball. He is simply fun to watch, especially if you like defensive basketball. He is rarely flashy, makes his shots, and has been the difference maker in a couple games since his return in early January.

Key Matchup

Terrance Henry vs. JaMychal Green. Both these guys have proven their leadership and importance while playing in the SEC. Henry leads the Rebels on offense, averaging 12.1 points per game, and can be a dominate force inside. Green is one of the best forwards in the SEC and it shows. He leads the Crimson Tide in scoring at 13.7 points per game and anchors the defensive attack with his long arms and physical attack. Henry will have to contain Green if the Rebels are going to have a chance in this contest.

Alabama needs a win on Saturday to stay on the right track. Both teams are very similar; and neither is going to light up the scoreboard. Alabama is ranked 214th in the nation with 66.2 points per game, while Ole Miss is ranked 215th with 66.1. If Alabama can win the rebounding battle and make some outside shots, look for the Tide to continue to roll on through their SEC schedule.

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Game Info

February 4, 2012 – 7:00pm CST

Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)

SEC Network, streaming on ESPN3