Hello all you basketball fans. It has been quite a lengthy layoff for the Fighting Tigers. The Tigers have played just 1 game since Christmas, and only 2 in the last 3 weeks. However, the Tigers are coming back into action in BIG way. Not only is it the start of SEC basketball...it's also QUICK CHANGE!!! Even though it's a Tuesday night, I expect a big crowd for the SEC opener against one of our most hated schools.

About Alabama:

Alabama is a tough and gritty team. Since Avery Johnson took over, you can count on Alabama crashing the boards and playing tough D. They have been a little erratic this season, especially early. They lost on a neutral court to Northeastern by 16, then lost @UCF, and lost at home to Georgia State. However, they bounced back with wins against Arizona, Liberty, Penn State, and most impressively...Kentucky. Will Wade said last year we could have played them 100 times and possibly never beat them. Tough pill to swallow, but they were bigger/better/tougher

Projected Lineups-
Alabama:
F- Danta Hall: 6'9 230 SR 11.1ppg, 8.3rpg, 2.1bpg, 65% FG%
G- Tevin Mack: 6'6 225 JR 9.9ppg, 35% 3P%
G- Herbert Jones: 6'7 206 Soph 7.5ppg, 4.8rpg,
G- Kira Lewis Jr: 6'3 167 FR 14.8ppg, 3.1apg, 39.7% 3P%
G- John Petty: 6'5 197 Soph 10.7ppg, 4.8rpg

BENCH:
Dazon Ingram: 6'5 210 JR 8.4ppg, 4.8rpg
Riley Norris: 6'7 212 SR 5.2ppg 38.5% 3P%
Alex Reese: 6'9 238 JR 7.2ppg
Galin Smith: 6'9 245 Sopa 3.8ppg, 2.5rpg
Avery Johnson Jr: 5'11 187 SR

Alabama does not have any stars like Sexton from last season. Tevin Mack is a former transfer from Texas who averaged 15ppg at Texas, he came in as a big time transfer, but it has not really translated. He really broke out against Kentucky, but prior to that his stats have been disappointing for his hype. Senior Donta Hall is a long armed guy in the middle that is an elite shot blocker. His offensive skill comes from his prowess for offensive rebounding.

Alabama is a decent shooing team, but seem to come up big when it matters. Last game, the Tide shot over 40% and that, along with rebounding, is why the beat Kentucky. Lewis and Norris are really excellent shooters, and Reese has proven to be able to knock down 3's. Mack shoots a pretty solid amount, but until last game, he was shooting a dismal 29%...amazing that a 6 for 8 night can boost you from 29% to 35%.

LSU:
To be honest, I have NO IDEA who Wade will go with. Alabama is is not a big Frontcourt team, but have big guards. It would not surprise me if Wade goes with a lineup in which Days starts to matchup with Mack. LSU, minus Waters, has big guards but not big like Alabama. I guess we will find out tomorrow night!!!!

Stats:
Alabama-
Offensive-
PPG: 76.5ppg (90th nationally)
FG%: 45.7% (113th nationally)
3P%: 34.8% (138th nationally)
2P%: 51.8% (140th nationally)
APG: 12.9apg (193rd nationally)
TOPG: 14.1topg (212th nationally)
ORPG: 10.2orpg (64th nationally)
Offensive Efficiency: 1.045 (99th nationally)

Defensive-
PPG: 71.7ppg (157th nationally)
RPG: 39.1rpg (41st nationally)
FG%: 44.1% (177th nationally)
3P%: 34.8% (138th nationally)
2P%: 51.8% (140th nationally)
SPG: 4.4spg (332nd nationally)
Opponent's Turnovers: 12.9 (225th nationally)
Defensive Efficiency: .977 (132nd nationally)

LSU:
Offensive-
PPG: 80.7ppg (30th nationally)
FG%: 49% (21st nationally)
3P%: 33.1% (214th nationally)
2P%: 58.2% (9th nationally)
APG: 14.5apg (90th nationally)
TOPG: 14.3 (235th nationally)
ORPG: 10.8 (44th nationally)
Offensive Efficiency: 1.101 (35th nationally)

Defensive-
PPG: 70ppg (126th nationally)
RPG: 36.8 (101st nationally)
FG%: 42% (89th nationally)
3P%: 35.8% (235th nationally)
2P%: 45.9% (47th nationally)
SPG: 10 (4th nationally)
Opponents Turnovers: 16.1 (34th nationally)
Defensie Efficiency: .955 (87th nationally)

What Do The Stats Say?

1 month ago, LSU had one of the worst defenses in a while. Since then, unbeknownst to many LSU fans, LSU has steadily climbed the rankings. LSU currently sits in the top 100 in defensive efficiency and top 40 in offensive efficiency. This is a great way to win games and reach the tournament. Looking through the stats, I'm actually shocked at how low Alabama is in defensive efficiency. When digging into the stats, there is one MASSIVE reason why...for whatever reason, the Alabama basketball team is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE at getting steals, creating turnovers, and getting easy transition points.

LSU is a good to elite defense in several categories, but their Achilles heel is the 3-ball. The old saying "live by the 3 die by 3" sums up LSU on defense. LSU is great at contesting shots at the rim, elite in creating turnovers, but opponents have a field day from deep. Conversely, Alabama is not elite or great in any category, but besides creating turnovers they aren't bad either. They're well coached, don't take chances, and they just try to hunker down and make scoring difficult.

Prediction:

Alabama is a solid team. They don't have highs and lows, they run their offense and they play their defense. No bells or whistles, just fundamentals. LSU is the more talented team, the more battle tested team, and the more potentially explosive team. Alabama has played 2 road games, UCF and SFA, and this will be an extreme step up. LSU's home crowds have been absolutely pathetic, but hopefully a big crowd will come out and help the Tigers. I simply think LSU is too talented, Alabama beating UK really really helps LSU lock in, and it is so difficult to win on the road. LSU rolls in this one.

LSU- 81
Bama- 70

PS - Writing this on my laptop at a bar...did not proofread.

PSS- frick Bama in this basketball game and the NC game. We Comin'

This post was edited on 1/8/19 at 10:13 pm