Alabama Basketball: Team stats and matchups for ‘Bayou Rumble’

Alabama basketball and LSU are two of the hottest teams in the SEC. Check out how they matchup for Wednesday night’s ‘Bayou Rumble.’

The Maravich Center in Baton Rouge will rock early Wednesday evening in Baton Rouge. Alabama basketball is at a pivot point in the season. At 12-7 and lacking an impressive road win, Nate Oats’ team has a great opportunity to define itself. The Crimson Tide, having won eight of its last ten games, doesn’t have to beat LSU. But a win over LSU will allow a Tide claim it has become a top-tier SEC team.

With Florida losing to Mississippi State Tuesday night and Auburn avoiding an upset in Oxford in double-overtime, the upper rank of the SEC looks to be three teams. Auburn is the highest-ranked SEC team at No. 20 in the NCAA NET. LSU is 15-4 and 6-0 in the SEC. The Bengal Tigers are ranked No. 25 in the NCAA NET and No. 34 by Ken Pomeroy. Kentucky is 15-4 and 5-1 in the SEC. The Wildcats are ranked No. 22 in the NET and No. 25 by Pomeroy. Pomeroy is not as sold on Auburn with his data placing the Tigers at No. 33. Auburn could lose any or all of its next three games before facing the Crimson Tide at home.

Most oddsmakers have LSU favored by about five points. Considering the home court counts for at least three LSU points, the odds indicate the teams are close to equal otherwise. One, seemingly significant, advantage, for LSU is the Bengal Tigers know how to win. Over LSU’s last five games, the Tigers have five wins, by a total of 15 points. The largest victory margin was four points, twice, over Ole Miss and Texas A&M. That many close wins indicate more than luck.

Most teams have a size advantage over the Tide. LSU does not have a dominant big man. The rebounds and interior defense come from 6-foot-9 forwards Darius Days and Tendon Watford. Both have the size to muscle opponents. The third LSU rebounder statistically is 6-foot-6 forward, Emmit Williams. The two primary guards for LSU are big, both 6-foot-4 and solidly built. Skylar Mays and Javonte Smart will be a load for Tide guards, particularly Beetle Bolden, who will have a size disadvantage.

LSU is balanced in scoring, with Mayes leading the team at under 16 points per game. Four more Tigers average double-digits; Williams, Watford, Smart and Davis. Williams is making 59.9 percent of his field-goal attempts.

Alabama basketball and LSU are the highest-scoring offenses in the SEC. The Tide averages 82.8 points-per-game and LSU, 79.6. LSU is not as three-point dependent as the Crimson Tide – and they don’t shoot as well outside the arc. The Crimson Tide leads the SEC in three-percentage at 35.8 percent. LSU is ninth-best in the league at 31.2 percent.

Overall shooting percentage favors LSU. The Bengal Tigers lead the league at 47.9 percent. Alabama is eighth-best in the league at 44.2 percent. LSU has an advantage at the foul line, shooting 76.6 percent while the Tide is at 71.6 percent.

The two teams are nearly equal in stats for steals and blocks. Skylar Mayes is one of the SEC’s best in steals. Kira Lewis Jr. is not far behind him. Assist numbers are nearly equal as well.

Turnovers often determine the outcome of close games. Per the NCAA, LSU has the edge at 13.8 per game compared to 15.9 for the Tide. Out of 350, D1 teams, LSU is No. 216 in turnovers. The Tide is No. 322. According to teamrankings.com, Alabama has the turnover margin advantage at +1.2 while LSU is +.8. The Tide is fourth-best and LSU is the fourteenth best among D1 teams.

Other than the sources cited above, most of the stats in this post were provided by the SEC. The game may not hinge on any of the stats listed if LSU gets the typical, SEC, home team advantage from the officials.