Game Preview: Alabama vs Missouri
When: Saturday, January 22 at 6:00 pm ET on SEC Network
Location: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, AL
Back on their winning ways, Alabama welcomes Missouri to town as the Crimson Tide are looking to avenge a 92-86 upset loss to the Tigers in Columbia earlier this month.
After having dropped three straight beginning with that previously mentioned loss in Columbia back on January 8, the Crimson Tide picked up a big win on Wednesday night as they defeated No. 13 ranked LSU 70-67. Receiving 26 points from leading-scorer Jaden Shackelford, the Crimson Tide out-rebounded the Tigers 44-36 in the contest (19-9 advantage on offensive glass), as well as forced 20 LSU turnovers.
Sitting at 12-6 on the year (3-3 in SEC), the previously mentioned win over LSU likely jumps the Crimson Tide back into the Top 25, assuming Alabama ends the week with a win over Missouri on Saturday. Averaging 81.1 PPG, the Crimson Tide have gotten strong play recently from the likes of Noah Gurley and Darius Miles, as well as the recently returned James Rojas also emerging into a bigger role.
Missouri also snapped a two-game losing streak on Tuesday night as the Tigers picked up a big road win as they defeated Ole Miss 78-53 in Oxford. Using a late first half run to grab a sizable lead, the Tigers would never trail in the second half, and finished the contest shooting a phenomenal 62.7% from the field, as well as also going 4-for-7 from three and out-rebounding the Rebels 40-26.
The Tigers sit at 8-9 on the year (2-3 in SEC), and while Missouri has been solid defensively allowing 71.3 PPG, the Tigers have struggled on offense averaging only 67.2 PPG. Leading the Tigers in scoring and rebounding is forward Kobe Brown (30 points, 13 rebounds vs Alabama earlier this month), while prominent scorer Amari Davis has since returned from the last time these two teams last met.
As was the same before their previous meeting in Columbia, this is a game that Alabama should easily win. The Crimson Tide should be able to matchup better with Brown in the paint with Rojas back, and Alabama should easily roll to a win at home on Saturday.
Prediction: Alabama 84, Missouri 69