Alabama Basketball: Tide looks for roundball Iron Bowl sweep

Alabama Basketball: Two programs moving in different directions meet Tuesday night as the Tide looks to sweep Auburn.

It is not easy to give up 90 points and win, but Alabama Basketball did that in early January in Auburn. Freshmen led the way for both teams. The Crimson Tide’s Josh Primo scored 22 points, while Sharife Cooper had 26 points for Auburn. Neither team shot threes well in the game, but both teams were excellent at the foul line. It took late defensive stops on Cooper for the Tide to win.

Sharife Cooper may or may not play Tuesday night in Tuscaloosa. After injuring an ankle he has not played since Feb. 20 and is listed as doubtful. The Crimson Tide has prepared for him anyway. Cooper is not a good three-point shooter and he has turnover binges, but he can score off the dribble and get to the foul line.

There has been speculation the expected ‘one-and-done’ Cooper has decided his Auburn career is over after just 12 games. The Auburn season is almost over as well. After facing the Tide, the Tigers play Mississippi State on Saturday for their last game of the season. Auburn chose to self-impose a ban on post-season play, hoping to reduce future NCAA penalties.

Auburn might be better without Cooper. Sophomore Allen Flanigan led the Tigers over Tennessee, with 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists. At 6-feet-6, Flanigan is bigger than Cooper and is more comfortable at the wing. Auburn had five players in double figures against the Vols. The Tigers’ ball distribution is better without Cooper. As good as Cooper is, Auburn might be harder to beat without him.

Though only 12-13 on the season, the Tigers have size, length and quickness enough to challenge the Crimson Tide. Oddsmakers have Alabama Basketball as a double-digit winner, but in February the Tide struggled with some less talented teams than Auburn.

Except for it being an Auburn game, it is not a game the Tide must win. What the Tide needs more is to regain its scoring rhythm from earlier in the season. Making a higher percentage of threes will take pressure off a very good Crimson Tide defense that had to win the game in Starkville.

Beating Auburn would not be a big resume booster or buster for the Tide. Auburn at No. 70 (NCAA NET) is a Quadrant 2 game and a Tide loss would not be a big blemish on the Tide’s high seed goals.

Nate Oats certainly wants to win. He said on Monday,

"I don’t think you can coast to the end. I think you have to push hard, get back to playing like we were. I don’t want to do that in these last two games. I want to push hard, try to get back to our main group playing as hard and as well as they can be playing."

Tipoff is 6:00 PM CST and the game will be broadcast on ESPN 2. Alabama Basketball leads the series record over Auburn, at 97-66, including a 43-9 advantage in Coleman Coliseum.