Alabama Basketball: Which Tide Team Will Show Up Against LSU?
By Mike Parham
Lately, the Alabama basketball team has been a nightmare for ranked opponents and the opposite against lesser teams
For Alabama basketball fans, one major question remains prior to their matchup with LSU (14-10) on Tuesday. Which Crimson Tide team will show up to Coleman Coliseum?
The night and day performances from Alabama has been a bit of a mystery this season.
Alabama (16-9) is currently 5-1 against ranked teams, the lone loss coming during the infamous 3-on-5, Minnesota game. However, the Tide has gone on to lose games from teams that are far more inferior, even at home.
With a chance to notch another conference victory before a showdown with Kentucky at Rupp Arena, the ‘nightmare’ Tide must show. Alabama is clearly the more dominant team in this matchup and should easily beat an LSU team that has lost three of their last five games.
Two of those games were 23 and 25-point blowouts from Tennessee and Auburn. Two teams Alabama has already beaten this season.
In Alabama’s game against Tennessee, it seemed as if the Tide finally figured out how to play to its strengths. The Tide used smothering defense to create turnovers and attacked the basket regularly.
Alabama also got their first complete team win in a while. Every player who logged minutes, except for walk-on Tyler Barnes, scored during the game. The Tide need to bring that same fire and effort when the Bengal Tigers come to visit.
Keys to Victory Against LSU
Attack the Rim
– Luckily for the Tide, the Tigers are built like the Vols. Now, that doesn’t mean that they will play the same, but rim protection is even worse for LSU. The Tigers only average four blocks per game, Tennessee averaged five and the Tide had their way in the paint.
Collin Sexton Must Attack Tremont Waters
– Waters is a much smaller player than Sexton. At 5 feet 11 inches tall and 167 pounds, it’s unlikely he will remain the primary defender on Sexton. If so, look for Sexton to attack the smaller defender every chance he gets.
– Waters is also LSU’s leading scorer so making him work on defense could affect his scoring ability.
Share the Basketball
– Alabama basketball had 15 assists against Tennessee and seemed to be unstoppable when moving the ball effectively. Dunks and easy layups were a familiar sight throughout the game.
– When Alabama moves the ball and gets multiple players involved offensively, they are one of the best teams in the country.
Next: An invitation to write about the Crimson Tide for ‘Bama Hammer’
Alabama basketball tips off against LSU on Tuesday at 8 PM CST on the SEC Network. After LSU, it is a return to the road against Kentucky and Auburn.