| MBB/WBB 🏀 Alabama Rolls Over Kentucky: 78-52

[Bama News]

No. 7/7 Alabama Hosts Kentucky at Coleman Coliseum - University of Alabama Athletics

Two of the best players in America square off Saturday afternoon at Coleman Coliseum.

rolltide.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama men's basketball will look to improve to 3-0 in the Southeastern Conference on Saturday, as the Crimson Tide host Kentucky at Coleman Coliseum. The Tide are looking to win its first three conference games for the first time since the 2020-21 season and second time since the 1986-87 season.

Saturday's game is sponsored by Ford and will be laying out rally towels that will be placed on chairs in the lower bowl.

The Alabama-Kentucky matchup features two of the top players in the country, as Alabama's Brandon Miller and Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe made the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 Watch List. Miller leads the SEC in scoring, averaging 19.1 points per game and Tshiebwe ranks first in the SEC with eight double-doubles this season.

The Broadcast​

Saturday's game is set for an 12 p.m. tipoff and will be aired on ESPN with Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Jimmy Dykes (analyst) on the call.

The radio broadcast can be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart (play-by-play), Bryan Passink (analyst) and Roger Hoover (sideline) on the call, while Tom Stipe (engineer) is turning the dials. The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

 

[rick4bama]

ROLL TIDE!!!

 

[alabama mike]

Wishing our young men the best! Let's bring home the win. Hopefully, the building will be loud and packed.

 

[TerryP]

It could be argued Bama has as many, maybe more, NBA prospects than Kentucky.

 

[TerryP]

Y'all remember Tyler...

 

[#80]

In basketball for me nothing tops beating the Cats.

 

[Bama News]

Google News

Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.

news.google.com

Kentucky basketball isn't ranked heading into its matchup against Alabama basketball. The Wildcats have four losses, and it's not even mid-January yet.

So, essentially, some fans in Lexington may perceive the sky to be falling.

Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats was asked if this is a different Kentucky team than he is used to seeing ahead of the matchup on Saturday (noon, ESPN) at Coleman Coliseum. The subject of Kentucky fans being restless with this team was also mentioned in the question.

"That's part of being at Kentucky," Oats said. "If they're not No. 1 in the country, I think their fans get a little restless. This is a good team ... To me, they've played a good schedule. They're good. I think they were upset they didn't have enough shooting before, but now they're leading the SEC in 3-point percentage. They're spoiled."

Oats compared Kentucky fans to Alabama football fans.

"If we're not in the College Football Playoff, everybody is upset and acts like it is a bad year," Oats said.

Alabama (12-2, 2-0 SEC) is having a better year so far compared to Kentucky (10-4, 1-1) but Oats pumped the brakes on any conversation that the Crimson Tide is close to being viewed like the Wildcats as a program.

"It's still Kentucky," Oats said. "You would have to do this year after year after year. I will say this, I think people's memory gets a little shorter here. Kentucky is Kentucky. They've been doing it for multiple years, especially since (John Calipari) took over. We won the SEC two years ago, we were middle of the pack last year and middle of the pack the year before. We've got to do this for multiple years in a row to get to where I feel like people are going to look at us like they look at Kentucky to be honest with you."

 

[#80]

ESPN Matchup Predictor gives us a 71% chance to win and Vegas has the Tide a 6' favorite.

 

[TerryP]

ESPN Matchup Predictor gives us a 71% chance to win and Vegas has the Tide a 6' favorite.

KPom: 78-72 Tide (71%)

 

[TerryP]

Fanduel Sportsbook.

1/6 @ 8:20 PM, -4½ (-115) Bama
1/7 @ 9:33 AM, -7½ (-104) Bama

 

[#80]

Fanduel Sportsbook.

1/6 @ 8:20 PM, -4½ (-115) Bama
1/7 @ 9:33 AM, -7½ (-104) Bama

Yeah that's significant money being laid on the Tide.

 

[TerryP]

Yeah that's significant money being laid on the Tide.

Brings to mind a thought ...

I think it's 15, maybe 16, states where you can place wagers through FD Sportsbook. I suspect, don't know, we're seeing a lot of public action in their numbers versus Caesar's, et. al. Although Caesar's has seen a point and a half swing since 7:30ish last night.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[PurlJam]

IMO..this needs to be a skulldragging on our part.

 

[mando]

IMO..this needs to be a skulldragging on our part.

I will settle for a 1 point win.

 

[#80]

Brings to mind a thought ...

I think it's 15, maybe 16, states where you can place wagers through FD Sportsbook. I suspect, don't know, we're seeing a lot of public action in their numbers versus Caesar's, et. al. Although Caesar's has seen a point and a half swing since 7:30ish last night.

Looks like the late money went on the Cats.

 

[bamanc50]

Oh no. Jimmy Dykes on the call. Mute day.

 

[bama alum]

IMO..this needs to be a skulldragging on our part.

So far, so good! Bediako is making a point to all the scouts in attendance.

 

[bamanc50]

If Bama loses this game it will be because of coaching. Cal is not afraid to sit a player that is not productive. He’s already got subs off the bench playing.

 

[TerryP]

He’s already got subs off the bench playing.

Both teams with three off the bench so far.