No. 10 Alabama vs Drake: preview, TV schedule
By Matt Melton
Game Preview: No. 10 Alabama vs Drake
When: Friday, November 26 at 4:30 pm ET on ESPNU
Location: HP Field House, Orlando, FL
Coming off their first loss of the 2021-22 season, Alabama faces yet another tough-test in the second round of the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational Tournament.
As mentioned previously, No. 10 ranked Alabama suffered their first loss of the season on Thursday night as the Crimson Tide were upset by Iona 72-68 to drop to 4-1 on the year. In what-was a back-and-fourth contest throughout, the Crimson Tide struggled mainly shooting the ball as Alabama shot 29.4% from three-point range (5-for-17), as well as 52% from the free throw line (13-for-25).
The Crimson Tide did receive a game-high 19 points from leading scorer Jaden Shackelford in the contest, as well as a few other notable performances such as 15 points from Jahvon Quinerly. The No. 15 team in the country in offensive efficiency according to KenPom, Alabama is due to have a bounce-back performance shooting the ball, and that could very-easily happen here.
Drake also suffered their first loss of the 2021-22 season on Thursday night as the Bulldogs fell 74-69 to Belmont in the first round. Drake shot 40.6% from the field in the contest, but similar to Alabama previously, struggled from long range (32%), as well as at the free throw lone (41.7%).
One of the top teams in the MVC, Drake came into Thursday night averaging an impressive 86.3 PPG led by leading scorer Tremell Murphy who had 18 points and nine rebounds against Belmont. The 3-1 Bulldogs are an excellent shooting team averaging 49.7% from the field and 45.3% from deep, and provide yet another NCAA Tournament caliber opponent for Alabama in the non-conference.
Next. Previewing the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational. dark
Similar to Thursday night against Iona, this will not be an easy task for the Crimson Tide, and will provide a difficult matchup coming-off the first loss of the season. This game will likely be close throughout similar to Thursday night, but is a game that the Crimson Tide should win by at-least 5-10 points.
Prediction: Alabama 79, Drake 72