No. 15 Alabama vs Missouri: preview, TV schedule

Game Preview: No. 15 Alabama vs Missouri

When: Saturday, January 8 at 3:30 pm ET on SEC Network

Location: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO

Off to a 2-0 start to SEC play, Alabama travels for their second consecutive conference game to face the struggling Missouri Tigers.

The Crimson Tide are coming off an 83-70 win at Florida on Wednesday night, a game in which Alabama out-scored the Gators 47-31 in the second half. Despite struggling from three-point range (9-for-32, 28.1%), the Crimson Tide did impress in a few key areas such as going 16-for-19 at the free throw line (84.2%), as well as forcing 20 Florida turnovers.

Sitting at 11-3 on the year (2-0 in SEC), the Crimson Tide come to Columbia ranked as the No. 15 team in the country, and are averaging 82.2 PPG offensively. Led by leading scorer Jaden Shackelford (16.3 PPG), guard Jahvon Quinerly has also scored in double-figures in each of his last seven games, including 19 points against Florida.

Missouri on the other hand entered SEC play having lost two of their last three games, and dropped their SEC opener at Kentucky 83-56 back on December 29. Having not played since then (game vs Mississippi State PPD on 1/5), the Tigers will be well-rested, but looking to improve offensively after shooting 32.8% from the field against Kentucky.

A different looking Missouri team compared to a year ago, the Tigers sit at 6-7 on the year (0-1 in SEC), and have struggled offensively averaging only 66.6 PPG, while allowing 70.7 PPG to opponents. Leading the Tigers is star forward Kobe Brown (14.2 PPG, 8.5 RPG), while five others also average 8+ PPG including Green Bay transfer guard Amari Davis.

After starting SEC play 10-0 last season, the Crimson Tide suffered their first conference loss to Missouri in Columbia a year ago, but this will be a very-different looking Tigers team on Saturday afternoon. Expect the Crimson Tide to control this game from the opening tip, and to cruise to a 3-0 start to conference play, setting up a matchup of SEC unbeaten’s against Auburn on Tuesday night in Coleman.

Prediction: Alabama 83, Missouri 67