No. 14 Alabama vs Oakland: preview, TV schedule

Game Preview: No. 14 Alabama vs Oakland

When: Friday, November 19 at 8:00 pm ET on SEC Network+/ESPN+

Location: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, AL

After a close win at home during the week, Alabama welcomes Oakland to Tuscaloosa for the fourth consecutive game inside Coleman Coliseum to start the season.

The No. 14 ranked Crimson Tide as mentioned previously picked up a 73-68 win over South Alabama on Tuesday night. A game in which the Crimson Tide committed 22 total turnovers, Alabama also shot 44.3% from the field (25.9% from three) while three players scored in double-figures.

Alabama enters this contest at 3-0 on the season, and are averaging 90 PPG, the No. 11 ranked offensive efficiency team in the country according KenPom. Leading the charge for the Crimson Tide so far this season is Preseason First-Team All-SEC selection Jaden Shackelford (19.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG), while Keon Ellis, Jahvon Quinerly, and Darius Miles are also averaging double-figure scoring.

Oakland comes to Tuscaloosa fresh off an 80-59 win over Toledo on Wednesday night, the second consecutive win for the Golden Grizzlies after Oakland picked up a huge road win last Friday night at Oklahoma State. The Golden Grizzlies shot an impressive 48.5% from the field on Wednesday night, while also receiving a game-high 29 points and 17 rebounds from Marquette transfer Jamal Cain.

Aside from Cain, Oakland does have two others averaging double-digit scoring in guard Jalen Moore and forward Trey Townsend, as well as guard Blake Lampman and forward Micah Parrish also key contributors. While not the most-effective three-point shooting team, the Golden Grizzlies are shooting a combined 41.1% from the field, and hold a 2-1 record on the year with their lone loss coming 60-53 at West Virginia in the season-opener.

While not the highest-rated defensive team (No. 127 according to KenPom), Oakland has played some close games this season in which the Golden Grizzlies were impressive on the defensive end, but have struggled offensively only averaging 63 PPG. Oakland will likely not be able to keep up with Alabama offensively here, and the Crimson Tide should pickup win No. 4 to start to the season.

Prediction: Alabama 85, Oakland 67