Another Bunch of Dawgs
VS
Previous Game:
Just this past Wednesday the Crimson Tide traveled to Athens to take on that other Bulldogs team in the Southeastern Conference's other division. BAMA fans are hoping that today's matchup against Mississippi State's Bulldogs team will go a little better though.
In the game against Georgia, Tide fans saw a BAMA team that played without much emotion or intensity and ended up losing 61-54. If the lack of intensity wasn't bad enough what made matters worse was BAMA's inability to hit a shot. Any shot. The Tide shot a paltry 50% from the charity stripe and only connected on 3 of their 20 3-point attempts. Had the Tide been able to connect on some shots the out come could have been decidedly different. On several occasions late in the game the Tide managed to close the gap to as little as 4 points, but couldn't put together enough shots or make enough defensive stops to take the lead.
Current Game:
How the team plays today at home will go a long way in deciding how they finish the SEC schedule. A win at home today against the western division leader could provide the Tide with a much needed confidence boost going into the 4 game homestand that features winnable games against teams like Auburn and LSU. A win today could propel the Tide back into the western division standings, but if the Tide comes out and plays like they did in Athens the season could very well be over.
To top the Bulldogs the Tide is going to have to play much better defense than it did against Georgia, as Mississippi State has 3 players averaging double figure points per game. Junior guard Jamont Gordon leads the team averaging over 17 per contest, while 6-8 big man Charles Rhodes dominates the paint and averages 14.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Guard Barry Stewart rounds out the scoring trio averaging over 11 points per contest.
Offensively BAMA just has to keep from being "offensive" in this one. While State is obviously a better, more talented team than UGA, BAMA does have the advantage of playing at home, which should help even things out a little. Provided the Tide can get anything at all from their scorers the game could go in their favor. Fifteen and fifty percent from the lines won't cut it in this one, and if the Tide shoots that poorly today it will get downright ugly.
Probable Starters for the Tide:
F Richard Hendrix 19.2 ppg/ 10.5 rpg
G Alonzo Gee 16.1 ppg/ 8.0 rpg
G Mikal Riley 13.6 ppg/ 43.8% 3-pointers
G Rico Picket 6.6 ppg
F Demetrius Jemison 5.2 ppg
Next on Tap:
The Crimson Tide will play their second game of the homestand against Auburn a week from today with tipoff set for 2:00 PM.
Previous Game:
Just this past Wednesday the Crimson Tide traveled to Athens to take on that other Bulldogs team in the Southeastern Conference's other division. BAMA fans are hoping that today's matchup against Mississippi State's Bulldogs team will go a little better though.
In the game against Georgia, Tide fans saw a BAMA team that played without much emotion or intensity and ended up losing 61-54. If the lack of intensity wasn't bad enough what made matters worse was BAMA's inability to hit a shot. Any shot. The Tide shot a paltry 50% from the charity stripe and only connected on 3 of their 20 3-point attempts. Had the Tide been able to connect on some shots the out come could have been decidedly different. On several occasions late in the game the Tide managed to close the gap to as little as 4 points, but couldn't put together enough shots or make enough defensive stops to take the lead.
Current Game:
How the team plays today at home will go a long way in deciding how they finish the SEC schedule. A win at home today against the western division leader could provide the Tide with a much needed confidence boost going into the 4 game homestand that features winnable games against teams like Auburn and LSU. A win today could propel the Tide back into the western division standings, but if the Tide comes out and plays like they did in Athens the season could very well be over.
To top the Bulldogs the Tide is going to have to play much better defense than it did against Georgia, as Mississippi State has 3 players averaging double figure points per game. Junior guard Jamont Gordon leads the team averaging over 17 per contest, while 6-8 big man Charles Rhodes dominates the paint and averages 14.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Guard Barry Stewart rounds out the scoring trio averaging over 11 points per contest.
Offensively BAMA just has to keep from being "offensive" in this one. While State is obviously a better, more talented team than UGA, BAMA does have the advantage of playing at home, which should help even things out a little. Provided the Tide can get anything at all from their scorers the game could go in their favor. Fifteen and fifty percent from the lines won't cut it in this one, and if the Tide shoots that poorly today it will get downright ugly.
Probable Starters for the Tide:
F Richard Hendrix 19.2 ppg/ 10.5 rpg
G Alonzo Gee 16.1 ppg/ 8.0 rpg
G Mikal Riley 13.6 ppg/ 43.8% 3-pointers
G Rico Picket 6.6 ppg
F Demetrius Jemison 5.2 ppg
Next on Tap:
The Crimson Tide will play their second game of the homestand against Auburn a week from today with tipoff set for 2:00 PM.
