Crimson Tide enters game having won five straight over the Tigers, including three consecutive on LSU’s home court
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama will play its first SEC road contest this season when it travels to Baton Rouge, La., to take on the LSU Tigers on Tuesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The contest begins a stretch for the Tide in which it will play three of its next four games on the road.
Tuesday's game marks the 180th contest played between Alabama and LSU – the second-most games played against any one opponent in UA men's basketball history. The Crimson Tide owns a 108-71 edge in the all-time series, including having won five straight games overall, with three of those victories coming on LSU's home court – the longest road winning streak by UA in the series since winning four-straight in Baton Rouge from 1974-76.
Alabama is coming off a 77-75 win over then-No. 13 Kentucky this past Saturday. The win gave head coach Avery Johnson his 12th win in 22 total games played against a team ranked in the AP Top-25 (12-10). Prior to his arrival, the Tide had dropped 21 consecutive games against opponents ranked in the AP Poll.
THE BROADCAST
• Tuesday's game will air on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Andy Kennedy (analyst) on the call.
• The radio broadcast can be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network, Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) on the call. The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.
NOTES YOU NEED TO KNOW
• The Tide's current five-game win streak over LSU is the longest since winning five consecutive from 2010-12. The last time Alabama has won six straight over the Tigers came during a stretch from 1985-87. Even more impressive is the Tide's three-game winning streak at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. It is the first time since UA has won three straight in Baton Rouge since winning four consecutive games at LSU from 1974-77 – more than 40 years ago.
• Alabama is riding a season-best five-game winning streak, matching the longest winning streak in the Avery Johnsontenure. Most recently, the Crimson Tide captured its best win of the year – and first victory over a ranked opponent on the year – when it toppled then-No. 13 Kentucky, 77-75, last Saturday in Coleman Coliseum. Junior Tevin Mack led five UA players in double figures with a season-best 22 points on the strength of a career-high six three-pointers in the victory. The loss by UK was its first defeat in a league opener since falling at Georgia in 2011.
• The victory over then-No. 13 Kentucky not only gave head coach Avery Johnson his first victory over the Wildcats since coming to Alabama in 2015, it also snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series. Moreover, Johnson improved to 12-10 when playing teams ranked in the Associated Press Top-25, which is impressive considering the Tide had lost 21 consecutive games against ranked opponents prior to his arrival.
• Prior to the start of league play, Alabama went on the road to face a stiff test at Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 30 and came away with a 79-69 victory, giving the Tide its first true road win of the season. Alabama has also captured victories over Penn State (73-64) on Dec. 21 and Liberty (84-75) on Dec. 18 in Huntsville, Ala., for the Rocket City Classic. The streak began back on Dec. 9 with a 76-73 home win over Arizona.
• Senior forward Donta Hall comes into Tuesday's contest having recorded three consecutive double-doubles. In doing so, Hall is the first Alabama player in 11 years to achieve the feat. The last UA player to do so was Richard Hendrix in 2008 against Florida (24 pts, 16 rebs) on Jan. 8, Arkansas (17 pts, 11 rebs) on Jan. 13 and Georgia (19 pts, 10 rebs) on Jan. 16, 2008.
• With one more block, Hall will become just the seventh player in program history to record 200 blocks for his career. He enters the UK game with 199 career swats, which is the most of any player currently playing in the SEC. Additionally, Hall ranks third among all active league players in rebounds with 661 and is tied for second among the conference in double-doubles for both this season (6) and for his career (11).
• The Tide has won the rebounding battle in 12 of its 13 games to begin the season. For the year, Alabama ranks third in the SEC and 32nd nationally in rebounding margin (+6.8), outrebounding the opposition by an average of 39.1-32.3.
• With the SEC-Big 12 challenge still looming, Alabama's non-conference strength of schedule ranked No. 28 in the nation, according to CBSSports.com. The Tide's non-league slate included four teams that were picked to win their conference: Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Georgia State (Sun Belt), Northeastern (Colonial Athletic Association) and UCF (American Athletic Conference). Alabama also faced off with Murray State (Nov. 26), who was picked to finish second by a narrow margin to Belmont in the Ohio Valley Conference.
• Alabama boasts a balanced offensive attack that averages 76.5 ppg and is outscoring the opposition by 4.9 points per contest (76.5-71.6). The Crimson Tide boasts three players who average double figures through 13 games (Kira Lewis Jr.- 14.8 ppg, Donta Hall - 11.1 ppg and John Petty Jr. - 11.1 ppg), while four others are averaging between 9.9 ppg and 7.2 ppg. Additionally, 10 UA players average double-digit minutes per game.
• Alabama will return home for its only home game in the current four-game stretch when it hosts Texas A&M on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 2:30 p.m. on SEC Network.
ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama improved to 10-3 on the year and 1-0 in the SEC when it picked up its fifth consecutive victory with a 77-75 win over then-No. 13 Kentucky last Saturday in the league opener for both teams. The streak began with a 76-73 home win over Arizona on Dec. 9 followed by an 84-75 triumph over Liberty on Dec. 18 in the Rocket City Classic in Huntsville, Ala. The Tide then defeated Penn State, 73-64, victory on Dec. 21 and followed that with a 79-69 victory at Stepehn F. Austin on Dec. 30.
• Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads a balanced scoring attack that features seven Alabama players averaging 7.2 points per game or more. Three UA players average in double digits as Lewis' 14.8 points per game tops the Tide and ranks 12th in the SEC. Senior Donta Hall is second on the team with 11.1 ppg, while sophomore John Petty Jr. is collecting 10.7 ppg.
• Lewis leads UA in minutes (31.2), assists (3.1 apg), three-point field goal percentage (.397), threes made (23) and free throw shooting (39-of-47, .830). Meanwhile, Hall tops the team in total dunks (25), rebounds (8.3 rpg), blocks (2.1 bpg), double-figure contests (10) and double-doubles (6). He currently ranks among the league leaders in both rebounding (T4th) and blocked shots (7th). Petty leads the Tide in threes attempted (69) and is second on the team in minutes (30.5), threes made (22) and rebounding (4.8).
• Junior Tevin Mack, who is coming off a 22-point performance in the win over the Wildcats, is averaging 9.9 ppg, while junior Dazon Ingram (8.4 ppg) and sophomores Herbert Jones (7.5 ppg) and Alex Reese (7.2 ppg) are both averaging over seven points per contest. Ingram is second in the team with 2.7 assists per game, while Jones, who is considered one of the top defenders in the Southeastern Conference, tops UA with 15 charges taken and 14 steals.
• As a team, Alabama enters its league opener as one of the top rebounding teams in the SEC. The Tide has outrebounded 12 of its 13 opponents on the year and ranks third in the SEC with a +6.8 advantage on the glass (39.1-32.3). UA is shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc on the year, while outscoring the competition by 4.9 points per game (76.5-71.6).
• Alabama welcomed back three of its top four and nine of the top 11 scorers from last season's squad. Leading the list of returnees is Hall, who paced all returning players in scoring (10.6 ppg), rebounding (6.6 rpg), blocks (2.0 bpg), dunks (75) and field goal percentage (.726).
ABOUT LSU
• LSU and Alabama will meet for the 180th time in program history, with the Tide leading the all-time series, 108-71. The 180 meetings marks the second-most games played against any single opponent, while the 108 wins by the Crimson Tide rank as the third-highest number for wins against an opponent. Alabama has played Mississippi State 199 times for 124 wins which ranks first in the record books, while the 120 wins against Ole Miss rank second.
• LSU has not played a game since an 81-69 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 28 – a span of 11 days between games. The Tigers come into Tuesday's contest sporting a 10-3 record on the season and is a perfect 8-0 record in home games this season, highlighted by taking down then-No. 24 Furman, 75-57, back on Dec. 21.
• Four players average double figures to lead the Tigers, led by junior guard Skylar Mays' 13.5 ppg. Freshman Naz Reid (12.6 ppg), sophomore Tremont Waters (12.5 ppg) and freshman Ja'vonte Smart (10.2 ppg) also average in double figures. Waters tops LSU and ranks sixth in the SEC with 5.5 assists per game, while his 3.2 steals per game leads the league.
• As a team, the Tigers are outscoring the opposition by 10.2 points per contest (80.7-70.0) and outrebounding the competition by 4.4 rebounds per game (36.7-32.3). LSU is shooting 49.0 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from beyond the arc and 73.1 percent from the charity stripe.
• LSU head coach Will Wade is in his second year at the helm of the LSU program. During his time in Baton Rouge, Wade owns a record of 28-28 (.609) and has a career record of 119-63 (.654).
ALABAMA-LSU – SERIES NOTES
• Alabama and LSU will meet for the 180th time in series history in a series that began during the 1915-16 season.
• Tuesday's game will mark the first of two meetings between the squads this season. The Tigers will invade Coleman Coliseum for the return game on March 2 at 11 a.m. CT.
• Alabama swept the season series last year, marking the second consecutive season the Tide has won both matchups. In fact, UA enters Tuesday's matchup having won five straight games in the series and now owns a 108-71 lead in the all-time series. The 180 meetings are the second-most Alabama has played against any single opponent, while the 108 wins rank as third best against any foe.
• Alabama and LSU have played in 10 overtime games in series history, including two triple overtime contests (2/10/90 & 2/23/13) and a quadruple overtime contest (2/12/72) – on of only two four-overtime game in school history. Alabama has an impressive 8-2 record when it has played LSU in overtime.
• The Tide's current five-game win streak over LSU is the longest since winning five consecutive from 2010-12. Even more impressive is Alabama's three-game winning streak at the PMAC, marking the first time since UA has won three straight in Baton Rouge since winning four consecutive games at LSU from 1974-77 – more than 40 years ago.
• Four of the last 11 games played between the two teams have been decided by three or fewer points, while seven of the last 12 have been decided by less than 10 points.
TOPPLING THE TOP 25
• Alabama is coming off a 77-75 win over then-No. 13/14 Kentucky this past Saturday, which was also the first contest the Tide has played against a ranked team this season.
• Head coach Avery Johnson has led his teams to success when playing against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 during his time at the Capstone.
• In 22 total games played against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 (including NCAA Tournament contests), Johnson has led the Tide to a record of 12-10. That's a huge improvement, especially considering prior his arrival, Alabama had lost 21 consecutive games to nationally-ranked opponents.
• Last season, Alabama finished with six wins over ranked opponents, It was the most victories over top-25 teams in a single season in program history, topping the four victories over ranked foes which was set in four different seasons (1981-82, 1986-87, 2001-02 and in coach Johnson's first season in 2015-16).
Alabama Travels to Baton Rouge for SEC Road Opener at LSU on Tuesday Night - University of Alabama Athletics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama will play its first SEC road contest this season when it travels to Baton Rouge, La., to take on the LSU Tigers on Tuesday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The contest begins a stretch for the Tide in which it will play three of its next four games on the road.
Tuesday's game marks the 180th contest played between Alabama and LSU – the second-most games played against any one opponent in UA men's basketball history. The Crimson Tide owns a 108-71 edge in the all-time series, including having won five straight games overall, with three of those victories coming on LSU's home court – the longest road winning streak by UA in the series since winning four-straight in Baton Rouge from 1974-76.
Alabama is coming off a 77-75 win over then-No. 13 Kentucky this past Saturday. The win gave head coach Avery Johnson his 12th win in 22 total games played against a team ranked in the AP Top-25 (12-10). Prior to his arrival, the Tide had dropped 21 consecutive games against opponents ranked in the AP Poll.
THE BROADCAST
• Tuesday's game will air on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play) and Andy Kennedy (analyst) on the call.
• The radio broadcast can be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network, Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) on the call. The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.
NOTES YOU NEED TO KNOW
• The Tide's current five-game win streak over LSU is the longest since winning five consecutive from 2010-12. The last time Alabama has won six straight over the Tigers came during a stretch from 1985-87. Even more impressive is the Tide's three-game winning streak at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. It is the first time since UA has won three straight in Baton Rouge since winning four consecutive games at LSU from 1974-77 – more than 40 years ago.
• Alabama is riding a season-best five-game winning streak, matching the longest winning streak in the Avery Johnsontenure. Most recently, the Crimson Tide captured its best win of the year – and first victory over a ranked opponent on the year – when it toppled then-No. 13 Kentucky, 77-75, last Saturday in Coleman Coliseum. Junior Tevin Mack led five UA players in double figures with a season-best 22 points on the strength of a career-high six three-pointers in the victory. The loss by UK was its first defeat in a league opener since falling at Georgia in 2011.
• The victory over then-No. 13 Kentucky not only gave head coach Avery Johnson his first victory over the Wildcats since coming to Alabama in 2015, it also snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series. Moreover, Johnson improved to 12-10 when playing teams ranked in the Associated Press Top-25, which is impressive considering the Tide had lost 21 consecutive games against ranked opponents prior to his arrival.
• Prior to the start of league play, Alabama went on the road to face a stiff test at Stephen F. Austin on Dec. 30 and came away with a 79-69 victory, giving the Tide its first true road win of the season. Alabama has also captured victories over Penn State (73-64) on Dec. 21 and Liberty (84-75) on Dec. 18 in Huntsville, Ala., for the Rocket City Classic. The streak began back on Dec. 9 with a 76-73 home win over Arizona.
• Senior forward Donta Hall comes into Tuesday's contest having recorded three consecutive double-doubles. In doing so, Hall is the first Alabama player in 11 years to achieve the feat. The last UA player to do so was Richard Hendrix in 2008 against Florida (24 pts, 16 rebs) on Jan. 8, Arkansas (17 pts, 11 rebs) on Jan. 13 and Georgia (19 pts, 10 rebs) on Jan. 16, 2008.
• With one more block, Hall will become just the seventh player in program history to record 200 blocks for his career. He enters the UK game with 199 career swats, which is the most of any player currently playing in the SEC. Additionally, Hall ranks third among all active league players in rebounds with 661 and is tied for second among the conference in double-doubles for both this season (6) and for his career (11).
• The Tide has won the rebounding battle in 12 of its 13 games to begin the season. For the year, Alabama ranks third in the SEC and 32nd nationally in rebounding margin (+6.8), outrebounding the opposition by an average of 39.1-32.3.
• With the SEC-Big 12 challenge still looming, Alabama's non-conference strength of schedule ranked No. 28 in the nation, according to CBSSports.com. The Tide's non-league slate included four teams that were picked to win their conference: Stephen F. Austin (Southland), Georgia State (Sun Belt), Northeastern (Colonial Athletic Association) and UCF (American Athletic Conference). Alabama also faced off with Murray State (Nov. 26), who was picked to finish second by a narrow margin to Belmont in the Ohio Valley Conference.
• Alabama boasts a balanced offensive attack that averages 76.5 ppg and is outscoring the opposition by 4.9 points per contest (76.5-71.6). The Crimson Tide boasts three players who average double figures through 13 games (Kira Lewis Jr.- 14.8 ppg, Donta Hall - 11.1 ppg and John Petty Jr. - 11.1 ppg), while four others are averaging between 9.9 ppg and 7.2 ppg. Additionally, 10 UA players average double-digit minutes per game.
• Alabama will return home for its only home game in the current four-game stretch when it hosts Texas A&M on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 2:30 p.m. on SEC Network.
ABOUT ALABAMA
• Alabama improved to 10-3 on the year and 1-0 in the SEC when it picked up its fifth consecutive victory with a 77-75 win over then-No. 13 Kentucky last Saturday in the league opener for both teams. The streak began with a 76-73 home win over Arizona on Dec. 9 followed by an 84-75 triumph over Liberty on Dec. 18 in the Rocket City Classic in Huntsville, Ala. The Tide then defeated Penn State, 73-64, victory on Dec. 21 and followed that with a 79-69 victory at Stepehn F. Austin on Dec. 30.
• Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads a balanced scoring attack that features seven Alabama players averaging 7.2 points per game or more. Three UA players average in double digits as Lewis' 14.8 points per game tops the Tide and ranks 12th in the SEC. Senior Donta Hall is second on the team with 11.1 ppg, while sophomore John Petty Jr. is collecting 10.7 ppg.
• Lewis leads UA in minutes (31.2), assists (3.1 apg), three-point field goal percentage (.397), threes made (23) and free throw shooting (39-of-47, .830). Meanwhile, Hall tops the team in total dunks (25), rebounds (8.3 rpg), blocks (2.1 bpg), double-figure contests (10) and double-doubles (6). He currently ranks among the league leaders in both rebounding (T4th) and blocked shots (7th). Petty leads the Tide in threes attempted (69) and is second on the team in minutes (30.5), threes made (22) and rebounding (4.8).
• Junior Tevin Mack, who is coming off a 22-point performance in the win over the Wildcats, is averaging 9.9 ppg, while junior Dazon Ingram (8.4 ppg) and sophomores Herbert Jones (7.5 ppg) and Alex Reese (7.2 ppg) are both averaging over seven points per contest. Ingram is second in the team with 2.7 assists per game, while Jones, who is considered one of the top defenders in the Southeastern Conference, tops UA with 15 charges taken and 14 steals.
• As a team, Alabama enters its league opener as one of the top rebounding teams in the SEC. The Tide has outrebounded 12 of its 13 opponents on the year and ranks third in the SEC with a +6.8 advantage on the glass (39.1-32.3). UA is shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc on the year, while outscoring the competition by 4.9 points per game (76.5-71.6).
• Alabama welcomed back three of its top four and nine of the top 11 scorers from last season's squad. Leading the list of returnees is Hall, who paced all returning players in scoring (10.6 ppg), rebounding (6.6 rpg), blocks (2.0 bpg), dunks (75) and field goal percentage (.726).
ABOUT LSU
• LSU and Alabama will meet for the 180th time in program history, with the Tide leading the all-time series, 108-71. The 180 meetings marks the second-most games played against any single opponent, while the 108 wins by the Crimson Tide rank as the third-highest number for wins against an opponent. Alabama has played Mississippi State 199 times for 124 wins which ranks first in the record books, while the 120 wins against Ole Miss rank second.
• LSU has not played a game since an 81-69 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 28 – a span of 11 days between games. The Tigers come into Tuesday's contest sporting a 10-3 record on the season and is a perfect 8-0 record in home games this season, highlighted by taking down then-No. 24 Furman, 75-57, back on Dec. 21.
• Four players average double figures to lead the Tigers, led by junior guard Skylar Mays' 13.5 ppg. Freshman Naz Reid (12.6 ppg), sophomore Tremont Waters (12.5 ppg) and freshman Ja'vonte Smart (10.2 ppg) also average in double figures. Waters tops LSU and ranks sixth in the SEC with 5.5 assists per game, while his 3.2 steals per game leads the league.
• As a team, the Tigers are outscoring the opposition by 10.2 points per contest (80.7-70.0) and outrebounding the competition by 4.4 rebounds per game (36.7-32.3). LSU is shooting 49.0 percent from the field, 33.1 percent from beyond the arc and 73.1 percent from the charity stripe.
• LSU head coach Will Wade is in his second year at the helm of the LSU program. During his time in Baton Rouge, Wade owns a record of 28-28 (.609) and has a career record of 119-63 (.654).
ALABAMA-LSU – SERIES NOTES
• Alabama and LSU will meet for the 180th time in series history in a series that began during the 1915-16 season.
• Tuesday's game will mark the first of two meetings between the squads this season. The Tigers will invade Coleman Coliseum for the return game on March 2 at 11 a.m. CT.
• Alabama swept the season series last year, marking the second consecutive season the Tide has won both matchups. In fact, UA enters Tuesday's matchup having won five straight games in the series and now owns a 108-71 lead in the all-time series. The 180 meetings are the second-most Alabama has played against any single opponent, while the 108 wins rank as third best against any foe.
• Alabama and LSU have played in 10 overtime games in series history, including two triple overtime contests (2/10/90 & 2/23/13) and a quadruple overtime contest (2/12/72) – on of only two four-overtime game in school history. Alabama has an impressive 8-2 record when it has played LSU in overtime.
• The Tide's current five-game win streak over LSU is the longest since winning five consecutive from 2010-12. Even more impressive is Alabama's three-game winning streak at the PMAC, marking the first time since UA has won three straight in Baton Rouge since winning four consecutive games at LSU from 1974-77 – more than 40 years ago.
• Four of the last 11 games played between the two teams have been decided by three or fewer points, while seven of the last 12 have been decided by less than 10 points.
TOPPLING THE TOP 25
• Alabama is coming off a 77-75 win over then-No. 13/14 Kentucky this past Saturday, which was also the first contest the Tide has played against a ranked team this season.
• Head coach Avery Johnson has led his teams to success when playing against teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 during his time at the Capstone.
• In 22 total games played against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 (including NCAA Tournament contests), Johnson has led the Tide to a record of 12-10. That's a huge improvement, especially considering prior his arrival, Alabama had lost 21 consecutive games to nationally-ranked opponents.
• Last season, Alabama finished with six wins over ranked opponents, It was the most victories over top-25 teams in a single season in program history, topping the four victories over ranked foes which was set in four different seasons (1981-82, 1986-87, 2001-02 and in coach Johnson's first season in 2015-16).
Alabama Travels to Baton Rouge for SEC Road Opener at LSU on Tuesday Night - University of Alabama Athletics
