No. 14 Alabama vs Louisiana Tech: preview, TV schedule

Game Preview: No. 14 Alabama vs Louisiana Tech

When: Tuesday, November 9 at 8:00 pm CST on SEC Network

Location: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, AL

Entering what is one of the most-anticipated seasons in Crimson Tide history, Alabama welcomes Louisiana Tech to town in what will be one of the more intriguing matchups on college basketball’s opening night slate.

The Crimson Tide enter the 2021-22 season coming off what was a phenomenal year No. 2 under head coach Nate Oats as Alabama finished with a 26-7 overall record a year ago, the best record in program history since 1986-87. Winning both the SEC Regular Season and Tournament Championship in the process, the Crimson Tide will be looking to not only repeat as SEC champs, but also return to the NCAA Tournament where Alabama reached the Sweet 16 a year ago.

While Alabama did lose a few key players from last season such as 2020-21 SEC Player and Defensive Player of the Year Herbert Jones and John Petty Jr, the Crimson Tide return a deep roster headlined by the guard duo of Jaden Shackelford and Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama’s top two leading scorers from a year ago. In addition to those two, versatile guard Keon Ellis also returns, as well as many key newcomers who will play important roles such as Furman transfer Noah Gurley and freshmen JD Davison and Charles Bediako.

Louisiana Tech enters the 2021-22 campaign coming off a 24-8 season a year ago, the Bulldogs’ best record under head coach Eric Konkol, which also included a deep-run in the NIT Tournament. The Bulldogs are once again expected to be one of the top teams in C-USA this season, as well as a candidate to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1990-91.

Headlining the 2021-22 Louisiana Tech roster is 2020-21 C-USA Rookie of the Year Kenneth Lofton Jr who averaged an impressive 12.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG a season ago on 56.7% shooting from the field. In addition to Lofton, the Bulldogs also return three of their next four leading scorers in Isaiah Crawford, Amorie Archibald, and Cobe Williams, each of whom averaged 8+ PPG and 3+ RPG last season.

As mentioned previously, this is one of the top matchups from college basketball’s opening night which features two of the top teams in the SEC and C-USA. Both teams are strong on both ends of the court, and both have prominent players returning from a year ago which should set-up a can’t-miss opening night showdown in Tuscaloosa.

Prediction: Alabama 78, Louisiana Tech 70