Crimson Tide and Commodores set to tip off at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's basketball team will play its first Southeastern Conference road contest when it travels to Nashville, Tenn., to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores on Tuesday night. The contest will tip at 6 p.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
The contest at Vanderbilt begins a road stretch as Alabama will play three of its next four games away from Tuscaloosa. It will mark the only meeting this season between the two teams.
Most recently, Alabama is coming off an impressive 79-57 win over No. 5/6 Texas A&M on both team's SEC opener last Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide led wire-to-wire en route to defeating at top-five time for the first time since beating then-No. 1 Stanford, 70-67, on March 20, 2004 in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. It also marked the first time Alabama defeated a top-five team at home since captured a 62-58 win over then-No. 5 Kentucky.
THE BROADCAST
• Friday's game will air on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) on the call.
• The radio broadcast can be found on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) on the call, with the pregame show beginning at 5 p.m. CT on the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
OPENING TIP
• The Tide has only won at Vanderbilt just one time since 1990 (58-54 on Feb. 2, 2013), going 1-13 in its last 14 games in Memorial Gym.
• The 79-57 victory over then-No. 5 Texas A&M on Saturday night was the largest margin of victory over an AP Top-10 team in program history. The previous mark was a 94-73 win over then-No. 10 Kentucky on Dec. 29, 1982.
• Alabama will remain on the road when it travels to Athens, Ga., to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 6. That contest will tip at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
• According to ESPN.com, the Tide comes into Tuesday's contest with the No. 30 RPI in the country and the No. 6-ranked strength of schedule – the highest in the SEC (as of 12/31).
• Alabama will remain on the road when it travels to Athens, Ga., to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 6. That contest will tip at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
• Alabama will remain on the road for its next contest when it travels to Athens, Ga., to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 6. That contest will tip at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
• Alabama improved to 9-4 on the season and 1-0 in league play following a 79-57 victory over then-No. 5/6 Texas A&M on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Crimson Tide will be looking for its first two-game win streak since winning back-to-back games in late November against UT Arlington (Nov. 21) and BYU (Nov. 24).
• Through its 13 contests, the Tide is averaging 77.1 points per game and outscoring the opposition by 6.5 points per contest (77.1-70.6). As a team, Alabama is connecting on 47.1 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Tide also owns a +1.1 rebounding advantage (37.9-36.8). Additionally, Alabama ranks third the SEC and 13th in the nation in blocked shots per game (6.2).
• In addition to blocking shots, the Alabama defense is allowing opponents to shoot 41.2 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from deep, while also averaging 6.5 steals a contest. Despite struggling at the foul line this season (shooting 67.3 percent on the year), the Tide leads the league in free throws attempted (330) and is third in free throws made (222). In fact, 22 percent of Alabama's point total (222 of 1002 points) have come from the charity stripe.
• Four players are averaging double-figure scoring for the Tide, led by freshman Collin Sexton's 20.1 ppg. That number not only leads the team, but also leads the SEC and ranks 53rd nationally. Sexton also tops the team in assists (3.3 apg) and field goals made (69) and attempted (154). Freshman John Petty ranks second on the team with 13.3 ppg and tops UA in threes made (40) and attempted (103), while his 3.1 treys made per game is tied for the best in the SEC.
• Junior Donta Hall leads the Tide in field goal percentage (.741, 63-of-85), dunks (32), rebounds (7.4 rpg) and blocks (2.6 bpg). Hall ranks third on the team with 11.5 points per game. Sophomore guard Dazon Ingram is averaging 11.3 ppg, and ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and assists (3.1 apg) a game.
SCOUTING VANDERBILT
• This is the 114th year of Vanderbilt basketball, with the first season taking place in 1900-01. There were no teams in 1904-05 and 1905-06. The Commodores have been to 14 NCAA Tournaments and 12 NIT's. Vanderbilt advanced to the Elite 8 in 1965 (field of 23), and the Sweet 16 in 1988, 1993, 2004, and 2007. The Commodores are in their 84th season of SEC basketball – Vanderbilt is one of the founding members of the Southeastern Conference.
• Head Coach Bryce Drew officially became the 27th head coach in Vanderbilt history on April 6, 2015. Now in his second season, Drew led the Commodores to the NCAA Tournament in his first season in Nashville, marking the first time in the history of the program a first-year Vanderbilt coach led his team to the tournament. Drew owns a record of 24-24 (.500) at Vandy and a 148-73 (.670) in seven seasons as a head coach.
• Vanderbilt enters its home league opener coming of an 81-74 defeat at Florida on Saturday. The loss dropped the Commodores to 5-8 on the season and 0-1 in league play.
• As a team, Vandy is shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from beyond the arc, while owning a +3.2 advantage on the glass (37.2-34.0). Defensively, the Commodores are allowing opponents to shoot 42.3 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from deep. Despite being three games under .500 on the year, Vanderbilt is outscoring the opposition by 2.3 points per game (71.5-69.2).
• Individually, senior Jeff Roberson enters Tuesday's contest leading the Commodores on both scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.2 rpg). Senior guards Matthew Fisher-Davis (12.4 ppg) and Riley LaChance (11.6 ppg) are both averaging double figures as well. Freshman Saben Lee tops the squad with 2.5 assists per game.
ALABAMA-VANDERBILT – SERIES NOTES
• Alabama and Vanderbilt will play for the 138th time in series history – and the only time this season – on Saturday night. It's the ninth-most games against any single opponent in the UA record books.
• The Crimson Tide snapped a three-game losing streak to the Commodores with a 59-56 victory in the lone meeting between the two teams last season. With the victory, Alabama owns an all-time record of 69-68 when playing Vanderbilt.
• Thirteen of the last 14 games played between the two teams have been decided by 10 or fewer points, with eight of those contests being decided by five or fewer points.
• Alabama has a record of 21-43 when playing Vanderbilt in Nashville. The Tide has only won at Vanderbilt just one time since 1990 (58-54 on Feb. 2, 2013), going 1-12 in its last 13 games in Memorial Gym. The Tide does not have a player on this year's roster born prior to 1991.
• There has been 11 overtime contests in series history, with Vanderbilt winning seven of those games (7-4).
• The series, which began during 1923-24 campaign, is now in its 114th year.
HISTORICAL WIN OVER FIFTH-RANKED TEXAS A&M
• Alabama is coming off an impressive 79-57 victory over then-No. 5 Texas A&M last Saturday in the SEC opener for both teams. It was a historical win on several fronts.
• The 22-point win was the largest Alabama victory over a team ranked in the Associated Press top 10 in program history. The previous mark was a 21-point win over then-No. 10 Kentucky (94-73) on Dec. 29, 1982.
• It marked the first time the Crimson Tide has beaten a top-five opponent since March 20, 2004 when UA knocked off then-No. 1 Stanford, 70-67, on March 20, 2004.
• It was the first time Alabama defeated a top-10 opponent since Feb. 18, 2006 when it defeated then-No. 8 Tennessee, 92-79.
• Alabama captured its first top-five opponent at home since Feb. 6, 1999 when UA captured a 62-58 win over then-No. 5 Kentucky in Coleman Coliseum.
TIP OFF NUGGETS
• For the second time this season, freshman guard John Petty was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, announced by the league office Monday. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound guard becomes the first Alabama rookie to win the league's weekly award twice in the same season since 2009 when JaMychal Green was named the SEC Freshman of the Week two times.
• Despite ranking 267th in the nation in free throw percentage (67.3 percent) this year, the Tide leads the Southeastern Conference in free throws attempted (330) and is third in the league in free throws made (222). Nationally, Alabama ranks 45th in total free throw attempts and is 79th in foul shots made.
• Senior guard/forward Riley Norris graduated on Dec. 16 with an undergraduate degree in marketing, having accomplished this in just three-and-a-half years at the University of Alabama. He will begin his graduate coursework in the spring of 2018. Throughout the course of his career, Riley has been named to the UA Dean's List five separate times and was a member of the 2015 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll.
• Collin Sexton tops the SEC in scoring average (20.1 ppg). Despite missing the first game of the season and not having a free throw attempt against Texas, Sexton leads the SEC in both free throws made (86) and free throws attempted (109). Additionally, he is 12th nationally in foul shots made and 13th in foul shots attempted
• Freshman Herbert Jones has drawn 14 charges already this season, which ties the program record. Since the stat was kept at Alabama (2008), the most charges for an entire season by a single player was Braxton Key who drew 14 charges in 2016-17, while Retin Obasohan's 10 charges taken in 2014-15 was next best.
• Last season, Alabama scored 82 points or more in only four games, including a quadruple overtime (won 90-86 at South Carolina). The Tide has achieved the feat in five of its first 13 games this year.
Alabama Opens the New Year at Vanderbilt on Tuesday in First Road SEC Contest - Alabama Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's basketball team will play its first Southeastern Conference road contest when it travels to Nashville, Tenn., to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores on Tuesday night. The contest will tip at 6 p.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
The contest at Vanderbilt begins a road stretch as Alabama will play three of its next four games away from Tuscaloosa. It will mark the only meeting this season between the two teams.
Most recently, Alabama is coming off an impressive 79-57 win over No. 5/6 Texas A&M on both team's SEC opener last Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide led wire-to-wire en route to defeating at top-five time for the first time since beating then-No. 1 Stanford, 70-67, on March 20, 2004 in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. It also marked the first time Alabama defeated a top-five team at home since captured a 62-58 win over then-No. 5 Kentucky.
THE BROADCAST
• Friday's game will air on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Daymeon Fishback (analyst) on the call.
• The radio broadcast can be found on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) on the call, with the pregame show beginning at 5 p.m. CT on the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
OPENING TIP
• The Tide has only won at Vanderbilt just one time since 1990 (58-54 on Feb. 2, 2013), going 1-13 in its last 14 games in Memorial Gym.
• The 79-57 victory over then-No. 5 Texas A&M on Saturday night was the largest margin of victory over an AP Top-10 team in program history. The previous mark was a 94-73 win over then-No. 10 Kentucky on Dec. 29, 1982.
• Alabama will remain on the road when it travels to Athens, Ga., to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 6. That contest will tip at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
• According to ESPN.com, the Tide comes into Tuesday's contest with the No. 30 RPI in the country and the No. 6-ranked strength of schedule – the highest in the SEC (as of 12/31).
• Alabama will remain on the road when it travels to Athens, Ga., to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 6. That contest will tip at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
• Alabama will remain on the road for its next contest when it travels to Athens, Ga., to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 6. That contest will tip at 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network.
SCOUTING ALABAMA
• Alabama improved to 9-4 on the season and 1-0 in league play following a 79-57 victory over then-No. 5/6 Texas A&M on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Crimson Tide will be looking for its first two-game win streak since winning back-to-back games in late November against UT Arlington (Nov. 21) and BYU (Nov. 24).
• Through its 13 contests, the Tide is averaging 77.1 points per game and outscoring the opposition by 6.5 points per contest (77.1-70.6). As a team, Alabama is connecting on 47.1 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Tide also owns a +1.1 rebounding advantage (37.9-36.8). Additionally, Alabama ranks third the SEC and 13th in the nation in blocked shots per game (6.2).
• In addition to blocking shots, the Alabama defense is allowing opponents to shoot 41.2 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from deep, while also averaging 6.5 steals a contest. Despite struggling at the foul line this season (shooting 67.3 percent on the year), the Tide leads the league in free throws attempted (330) and is third in free throws made (222). In fact, 22 percent of Alabama's point total (222 of 1002 points) have come from the charity stripe.
• Four players are averaging double-figure scoring for the Tide, led by freshman Collin Sexton's 20.1 ppg. That number not only leads the team, but also leads the SEC and ranks 53rd nationally. Sexton also tops the team in assists (3.3 apg) and field goals made (69) and attempted (154). Freshman John Petty ranks second on the team with 13.3 ppg and tops UA in threes made (40) and attempted (103), while his 3.1 treys made per game is tied for the best in the SEC.
• Junior Donta Hall leads the Tide in field goal percentage (.741, 63-of-85), dunks (32), rebounds (7.4 rpg) and blocks (2.6 bpg). Hall ranks third on the team with 11.5 points per game. Sophomore guard Dazon Ingram is averaging 11.3 ppg, and ranks second on the team in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and assists (3.1 apg) a game.
SCOUTING VANDERBILT
• This is the 114th year of Vanderbilt basketball, with the first season taking place in 1900-01. There were no teams in 1904-05 and 1905-06. The Commodores have been to 14 NCAA Tournaments and 12 NIT's. Vanderbilt advanced to the Elite 8 in 1965 (field of 23), and the Sweet 16 in 1988, 1993, 2004, and 2007. The Commodores are in their 84th season of SEC basketball – Vanderbilt is one of the founding members of the Southeastern Conference.
• Head Coach Bryce Drew officially became the 27th head coach in Vanderbilt history on April 6, 2015. Now in his second season, Drew led the Commodores to the NCAA Tournament in his first season in Nashville, marking the first time in the history of the program a first-year Vanderbilt coach led his team to the tournament. Drew owns a record of 24-24 (.500) at Vandy and a 148-73 (.670) in seven seasons as a head coach.
• Vanderbilt enters its home league opener coming of an 81-74 defeat at Florida on Saturday. The loss dropped the Commodores to 5-8 on the season and 0-1 in league play.
• As a team, Vandy is shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from beyond the arc, while owning a +3.2 advantage on the glass (37.2-34.0). Defensively, the Commodores are allowing opponents to shoot 42.3 percent from the floor and 31.3 percent from deep. Despite being three games under .500 on the year, Vanderbilt is outscoring the opposition by 2.3 points per game (71.5-69.2).
• Individually, senior Jeff Roberson enters Tuesday's contest leading the Commodores on both scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.2 rpg). Senior guards Matthew Fisher-Davis (12.4 ppg) and Riley LaChance (11.6 ppg) are both averaging double figures as well. Freshman Saben Lee tops the squad with 2.5 assists per game.
ALABAMA-VANDERBILT – SERIES NOTES
• Alabama and Vanderbilt will play for the 138th time in series history – and the only time this season – on Saturday night. It's the ninth-most games against any single opponent in the UA record books.
• The Crimson Tide snapped a three-game losing streak to the Commodores with a 59-56 victory in the lone meeting between the two teams last season. With the victory, Alabama owns an all-time record of 69-68 when playing Vanderbilt.
• Thirteen of the last 14 games played between the two teams have been decided by 10 or fewer points, with eight of those contests being decided by five or fewer points.
• Alabama has a record of 21-43 when playing Vanderbilt in Nashville. The Tide has only won at Vanderbilt just one time since 1990 (58-54 on Feb. 2, 2013), going 1-12 in its last 13 games in Memorial Gym. The Tide does not have a player on this year's roster born prior to 1991.
• There has been 11 overtime contests in series history, with Vanderbilt winning seven of those games (7-4).
• The series, which began during 1923-24 campaign, is now in its 114th year.
HISTORICAL WIN OVER FIFTH-RANKED TEXAS A&M
• Alabama is coming off an impressive 79-57 victory over then-No. 5 Texas A&M last Saturday in the SEC opener for both teams. It was a historical win on several fronts.
• The 22-point win was the largest Alabama victory over a team ranked in the Associated Press top 10 in program history. The previous mark was a 21-point win over then-No. 10 Kentucky (94-73) on Dec. 29, 1982.
• It marked the first time the Crimson Tide has beaten a top-five opponent since March 20, 2004 when UA knocked off then-No. 1 Stanford, 70-67, on March 20, 2004.
• It was the first time Alabama defeated a top-10 opponent since Feb. 18, 2006 when it defeated then-No. 8 Tennessee, 92-79.
• Alabama captured its first top-five opponent at home since Feb. 6, 1999 when UA captured a 62-58 win over then-No. 5 Kentucky in Coleman Coliseum.
TIP OFF NUGGETS
• For the second time this season, freshman guard John Petty was named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week, announced by the league office Monday. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound guard becomes the first Alabama rookie to win the league's weekly award twice in the same season since 2009 when JaMychal Green was named the SEC Freshman of the Week two times.
• Despite ranking 267th in the nation in free throw percentage (67.3 percent) this year, the Tide leads the Southeastern Conference in free throws attempted (330) and is third in the league in free throws made (222). Nationally, Alabama ranks 45th in total free throw attempts and is 79th in foul shots made.
• Senior guard/forward Riley Norris graduated on Dec. 16 with an undergraduate degree in marketing, having accomplished this in just three-and-a-half years at the University of Alabama. He will begin his graduate coursework in the spring of 2018. Throughout the course of his career, Riley has been named to the UA Dean's List five separate times and was a member of the 2015 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll.
• Collin Sexton tops the SEC in scoring average (20.1 ppg). Despite missing the first game of the season and not having a free throw attempt against Texas, Sexton leads the SEC in both free throws made (86) and free throws attempted (109). Additionally, he is 12th nationally in foul shots made and 13th in foul shots attempted
• Freshman Herbert Jones has drawn 14 charges already this season, which ties the program record. Since the stat was kept at Alabama (2008), the most charges for an entire season by a single player was Braxton Key who drew 14 charges in 2016-17, while Retin Obasohan's 10 charges taken in 2014-15 was next best.
• Last season, Alabama scored 82 points or more in only four games, including a quadruple overtime (won 90-86 at South Carolina). The Tide has achieved the feat in five of its first 13 games this year.
Alabama Opens the New Year at Vanderbilt on Tuesday in First Road SEC Contest - Alabama Athletics
