Alabama Basketball raised its record to 3-0 with a 65-55 win over South Alabama in Mobile.
Rebounding was the difference in the game with the Crimson Tide dominating the boards by a margin of 63-40. Noah Clowney had 15 rebounds to lead the Crimson Tide. Among the new players on the rosters, Clowney has probably been the biggest surprise. Known as a big man with considerable skills, there had been an expectation he would need time in the weight room and some additional bulk to reach his potential. While that remains true, he has already become a key player for Nate Oats.
Speaking after the South Alabama game, Nate Oats said,
"This is a good road win. It is our first road game of the year and offensively we were not very good for large stretches of the game; way too many turnovers and didn’t hit a shot for a while there. Offensive rebounding saved us there, which it has for a good part of the year, particularly in our first game and this game so it was huge for (Noah) Clowney to get eight offensive boards himself and 15 rebounds that was huge. That is why he is in the starting lineup because he plays so hard and rebounds the ball. Offensively we got a lot of work to do, we just are not anywhere close on where we are going to be or need to be"
Oats also complimented the Tide’s defensive effort against the Jaguars. Good defense will be needed Friday night, as Jacksonville State is an outstanding three-point shooting team.
Check out some interesting ‘good to know’ points provided by the Crimson Tide.
- Alabama ranks No. 1 in the country in rebounds per game (58.3) and in rebound margin (24.7) and No. 2 in defensive rebounds per game (38.6)
- Alabama is the only team in the SEC that has four players ranked in the top 10 in rebounds per game in
Clowney (No. 1, 10.7), Brandon Miller (No. 3, 9.7), Charles Bediako (No. 7, 8.0) and Mark Sears (No. 9, 7.3). - Alabama’s newcomers have scored 200 of the Tide’s 235 points this season.
- The Crimson Tide’s Brandon Miller is one of two players in the SEC that is currently averaging a double-double, along with Trevon Brazile of Arkansas, as Miller is averaging 17.0 ppg and an SEC-best 10.5 rpg.
According to FanDuel, Alabama is a 22.5-point favorite. The Moneyline is Alabama -4500, with South Alabama +1600. The over/under is 149.5 points.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change
Alabama Basketball vs. South Alabama (USA) Info
Tonight’s contest is at 8:00 PM CST. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network, with Kevin Fitzgerald and Jon Sundvold as the television team. Chris Stewart and Bryan Passink will have the radio call on the Crimson Tide Sports Network (Sirius/XM 134/201). The game will also be streamed through the ESPN App and on fuboTV.
Except for Dom Welch and Darius Miles, Alabama should have a full roster available. In a surprise move by Nate Oats, Jahvon Quinerly returned to action against South Alabama. As he was in Mobile, Quineerly’s minutes will be limited.
Alabama Basketball Game Prediction
If the Crimson Tide is efficient at shooting threes and limiting turnovers, Alabama can cover the spread, but the prediction is for a somewhat closer game.
Alabama 83 – 66
Complete Alabama Basketball Game Notes are available here.