Alabama Basketball: Tide Set to Face Auburn in SEC Quarterfinals
By Mike Parham
After one of the most amazing finishes in recent memory, the Alabama basketball team looks to carry that momentum into their matchup with the Auburn Tigers
The Alabama basketball team will get another chance to avenge a loss from an opponent during their five-game losing streak. The Tide, who defeated Texas A&M with a buzzer beater Thursday, will now face Auburn in the quarterfinals.
The Tigers, who are also the top-seed, defeated Alabama 90-71 on February 21st. The Tide also possess a victory over the Tigers, defeating them 75-71 in Coleman Coliseum on January 17th.
Auburn is coming into this game currently ranked as a No. 3 seed in Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology. The Tide, prior to the A&M game, were listed as First Four Out. However, after a victory, were moved into the First Four In.
For Auburn, a victory against the Tide probably won’t improve their tournament seeding. On the other hand, a victory over Auburn would pretty much guarantee Alabama a tournament spot.
In their last meeting, the Tide had no answer for Jared Harper, Bryce Brown, and Chuma Okeke. Harper scored 21 and Brown added 18 as the Tigers easily pulled away from Alabama. Okeke also added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Although they were only playing with seven scholarship players, Auburn was still able to turn a five-point halftime lead into a full-on blowout.
Collin Sexton scored 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting for the Tide but that wasn’t enough. Mostly because no other player scored more than 11 points for Alabama.
A big deciding factor in the game was Auburn’s ability to share the basketball and hit open threes. The Tigers had 19 assists and hit 12 threes against the Tide.
The Tigers also out-hustled Alabama on the boards and forced the Tide into making mistakes. They grabbed 14 offensive rebounds while forcing, and sometimes not forcing, Alabama to commit 17 turnovers.
Alabama Keys to Victory
Hustle
– Second chance opportunities helped Auburn pull away from the Tide in their last meeting. Auburn played with only seven players, but Alabama played like all seven were on the floor at the same time.
Limit Turnovers
– 17 turnovers are too much for any team. Especially a team that is also getting beat on the glass. It’s a recipe for disaster.
John Petty MUST SHOW UP
– Beating a dead horse here, but the absence of contributions from Petty really hurts the Tide. He had three points in the last meeting and zero points against Texas A&M
Start Strong and Finish Strong Without a Drought
– Alabama has been on some predictable and horrible timed scoring droughts. To get a victory against Auburn that needs to be corrected.
Next: Alabama Basketball: Sexton’s Buzzer Beater Lifts Tide in SEC Tourney
With a victory, the Tide will go on to face either Kentucky or Georgia on Saturday at 12 PM (CST) on ESPN.