Alabama has one major advantage in Tennessee rematch that is being ignored

A common theme in previews of Alabama's rematch with Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday is that the Crimson Tide will not have Charles Bediako this time around, which only serves to amplify the Vols's biggest advantage: offensive rebounding.

Tennessee ranks No. 1 in the country in offensive rebounding percentage, per KenPom. They rebound an astonishing 45% of their own misses. In the first meeting in Tuscaloosa last month, Tennessee picked up 14 offensive rebounds on the way to a 79-73 win over Alabama, its fifth straight in the rivalry.

But Alabama's struggles on the glass weren't the reason the Crimson Tide lost. It was instead a cold shooting night (6-of-26 from three), and the lack of offensive playmaking aside from Labaron Philon.

Due to that matchup being Bediako's first game back for the Crimson Tide after three years in the G-League, it was glossed over who Alabama didn't have for that matchup. Both Aden Holloway and Amari Allen were unable to play; that's the Tide's second and third leading scorers, and second and third leaders in assists.

Those aren't insignificant losses.

They'll both be available tomorrow night in Knoxville, though Philon's status remains up in the air after he sat out Alabama's midweek shellacking of Mississippi State.

One key statistic shows the impact Aden Holloway and Amari Allen have for Alabama

CBB Analytics shared some data on Friday that speaks to how potent Alabama's offense is when both Holloway and Allen are able to play.

Of the 15 best 3-man lineups in terms of offensive rating in Quad 1 games (and UT in Knoxville certainly qualifies as that), the Crimson Tide has three of them: No. 1, No. 4, and No. 13. Better yet, you know what those three have in common? Holloway and Allen make up two-thirds of each one:

It is perhaps surprising that none of those lineups include Philon, but the impact Holloway and Allen have on the team cannot be understated. There's not a better 3-man lineup offensively in the country - at least in Quad 1 games - than Holloway, Allen, and sophomore center Aiden Sherrell, who has blossomed in his second season in Tuscaloosa.

Senior Houston Mallette joins Allen and Holloway in the 4th-best 3-man group. And then senior Latrell Wrightsell is part of the 13th-best trio.

Holloway and Allen will help tremendously in Knoxville. Both are elite 3-point shooters (Holloway 43%; Allen 39.8%), and they will take a huge playmaking burden off of Philon' shoulders.

Alabama managed just nine assists on 25 made baskets in last month's matchup against Tennessee, which is eight fewer than it averages per game.

With or without Philon, the Crimson Tide has a much better shot of beating the Vols - even on the road - with Holloway and Allen back in the lineup.