by Paul Jordan
GAME 32- 3/12/2010
BRIDGESTONE ARENA – NASHVILLE, TN
TV: 1PM – SEC NETWORK
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE 17-14 (6-10)
KENTUCKY LEADS SERIES 99-35
RECENT MEETINGS:
2/9/2010: KENTUCKY 66 ALABAMA 55
1/24/2009: KENTUCKY 61 ALABAMA 51
2/9/2008: KENTUCKY 62 ALABAMA 52
3/8/2007: KENTUCKY 69 ALABAMA 67 (SEC TOURNEY)
2/17/2007: ALABAMA 72 KENTUCKY 61
3/10/2006: KENTUCKY 68 ALABAMA 61 (SEC TOURNEY)
1/14/2006: ALABAMA 68 KENTUCKY 64
Alabama comes into this game off a impressive 18 point come from behind victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks and they appear to have a pretty good shot at a NIT bid with 17 wins on the year. Of course, a win over Kentucky would lock in the NIT bid and put Anthony Grant just two wins from the NCAA Tourney. Kentucky won a sluggish victory over Alabama 66-55 just over a month ago. Alabama is 4-3 since that game and is on a modest three game winning streak. It should be noted that consists of two wins against South Carolina and Auburn. Regardless, Grant seems to be a pretty good motivator for his team and will no doubt have his team ready to play.
THE STARTERS
G – MIKHAIL TORRANCE – SR 6’5 210
15.4 ppg, 3.8 rebs, 5.3 assists
G – SENARIO HILLMAN – JR 6’1 192
8.0 ppg, 3.0 rebs, 2.2 assists
F – TONY MITCHELL – FR 6’6 185
9.2 ppg, 5.6 rebs, 0.5 assists
F – JUSTIN KNOX – JR 6’9 240
6.1 ppg, 3.3 rebs, 0.7 assists
F – CHRIS HINES – JR 6’8 220
3.7 ppg, 4.2 rebs, 0.4 assists
Mikhail Torrance is the type of player that can present problems for Kentucky. He is a very consistent scorer (only 3 games not in double digits), one of the assist leaders in the SEC (with an 1.93 A/TO ratio) and a pretty decent 3-point shooter (36.2%). At 6’5, he also has the length that can present problems for John Wall. Senario Hillman is struggling this season and seems kind of lost in Anthony Grant’s system. After averaging almost 13 points a season last year, he is very inconsistent. Interestingly enough, his 3-point shooting has improved over last year, but he is only attempting half the treys. Hillman did have 10 points versus Kentucky in the earlier meeting, but that is the extent of a big night for him. 5’9 Senior Anthony Brock will see lots of action and is averaging 6.1 points a game but has struggled handling the ball lately. Before the first Kentucky game, he had a 3.07 A/TO ration and that has shrunk to a 1.94 ratio. Look for Brock to bomb away from downtown as 111 of his 163 shot attempts have been treys. Charvez Davis is another guard that will come in and look to drop bombs from downtown. 127 of his 160 shot attempts have been treys and he is averaging just under 6.0 a game.
If not for DeMarcus Cousins, we could be hearing a lot more about Tony Mitchell as a top freshman. He is a terrific scorer up close and is not afraid to do the dirty work and play defense. He is third on the Tide in scoring, although his numbers have dipped a bit lately. Even though he is not starting right now, JaMychal Green is a difference maker for the Crimson Tide and if he is matched up with Cousins, it would be like old days for the Alabama high schoolers. Green is capable of a huge night as evidenced by his 27 points and 13 boards versus Mercer and he swats 2 shots a game. Shutting Green down is a key for UK. Green was “suspended indefinitely” a few games ago, but it seems that Anthony Grant studied the Urban Meyer book on suspensions as Green missed just one game and has not started the last two games. Chris Hines has been starting lately but only averages 19 minutes a game and is not a big factor when he is in. 6’9 Junior Justin Knox has been starting for the Tide during Green’s “suspension” and has averaged about 10 points a game over the last four.
OUTLOOK
Grant’s style of basketball is hard nosed defense which usually results in scores in the 60’s and an ugly game to watch. Torrance and Green make a very nice inside/outside combo, but unfortunately that is about all that the Tide have. Mitchell is a good player but can’t keep up with Cousins and Patterson. Grant is a good coach though and will keep the game close with a solid gameplan for about 25 minutes of the game, but look for UK to pull away for a 83-63 win.
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