[Old School Hound]

I think Alabama wins. Too many of their players will remember and be motivated by getting embarrassed in Rupp late last season.

They're also coming off of an upset to Ole Miss but were playing well going into that one.

Wouldn't be surprised if this one isn't in the high 80s/low 90s for each team. Can see at least one, if not both, teams trying to throw a curve, even if it's only for a short period.

Kentucky has played a stronger conference schedule so far, and they've probably played a stronger non-conference schedule at the top (Duke & Gonzaga vs. Houston & Illinois), but the meat of Alabama's non-conference schedule is tougher. They had your typical early season and Christmas break cupcakes along with Arkansas State, McNeese, at Purdue, vs. Houston, vs. Illinois, vs. Rutgers, vs. Oregon, at North Carolina, and Creighton. All of those games were in succession and while the first two schools don't jump out to casuals, but McNeese is a tournament team coached by Will "Strong Ass Offer" Wade and Arkansas State has beaten Memphis and should win the Sun Belt. KenPom currently has the rating of the Tide's opponents at 1, 1, and 4 overall in terms of NetRtg (SOS), AdjOE (off. eff.), and AdjDE (def. eff.). Despite this, their average PPG and PAPG are in line with Kentucky's.

Stats aside, I have questions about who'll check Sears with Butler banged up. If Oweh has to spend much time on Sears, Philon could cut us up. Also don't have to squint too hard to see a sore Carr struggling with Nelson. If we burn Amari on Nelson, then Omoruyi may outrebound us himself.


I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst and think that the Crimson Tide hand Kentucky their first of what is hopefully one of their two or three home L's.

Cacti,  you probably watched the Alabama-Ole Miss game. Did the Rebels give future Alabama opponents a blueprint on how to beat 'Bama or did the Crimson Tide just play bad?  I was thinking maybe they were looking ahead to Kentucky. Sometimes that happens. How did Ole Miss have success in Tuscaloosa?