The last two weeks have been a complete rollercoaster for this Alabama basketball team. A slow start doomed a comeback win against Auburn and kept the Tide from getting close to Missouri last week. Despite a slow start against Kentucky, this team rebounded nicely with a strong end of the first half run to lead to a comfortable win last Saturday.
A complete performance is needed against Mississippi State to close out the month of February, before the gauntlet that is the March regular season games before the SEC Tournament.
One would think winning at The Hump and being able to overcome a 38-point performance from Josh Hubbard, that a win in Tuscaloosa would be easier to achieve. However, the way this SEC season has gone one can't be too certain but a quick start is needed. A slow start isn't ideal in any game, but especially against a tough, physical ranked SEC opponent.
It is great to see Mark Sears coming around after two straight 30-point performances and I expect to see a similar number Tuesday night. The defense was much improved against Kentucky and would like to see the same effort against Mississippi State.
I would like to see a more consistent performance from Grant Nelson to match the energy of Mo Dioubate and Big Cliff.
This feels like the tune-up game before the gauntlet to close the SEC regular season against Tennessee, Kentucky, and Auburn. A win against the Bulldogs would be eight straight for the Tide in a rivalry game that has had quite a few memorable close games over the years. in addition to getting off to a quick start, turnovers need to be at a minimum as well as extra dribbling with no purpose.
The offense needs to be in rhythm early as that helps the defense immensely. Mississippi State will be looking to get to their 20th win after a less than stellar performance in a loss to Oklahoma over the weekend. A win over Alabama would be huge for this team's resume for seeding purposes for the SEC and NCAA Tournament. The double-bye in Nashville is still very much in play for the Crimson Tide making tonight's game a must-win.