TIDE TAKES ON MISSISSIPPI STATE ON SATURDAY...   

UPDATE: Ga'Quincey McKinstry might dress today for the Tide

Nate Oats says that the five-star football recruit has been practicing with the hoop team. Whether he plays or not is another question

Jones' leadership has been a key.

   Alabama has rocketed to a # 2 seed, according to many bracketologists. ESPN's Joe Lunardi has moved the Tide up a # 3 seed in the Region 2 Bracket. Baylor is the # 1 seed per Lunardi. None of his predictions are cast in stone. No doubt, the Crimson Tide is headed in the right prediction for better seeding in the NCAA Tournament. This weekend Nat Oat's team hosts the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This game has always been a big game between the two schools.  Alabama is going to be a prohibited favorite for the 5:OO PM tip-off.

         The two teams are going in opposite directions. The Tide is 7-0 in the SEC, and Bulldogs are a respectable 4-3.  I think the Tide wins, but Mississippi State is a big, strong, and lengthy team on defense. Big men will always give Alabama some trouble.  It will be the speed and quickness of Alabama vs. the size and power of Mississippi. State is no pushover. Ben Howland is a great coach. He coached UCLA to consecutive Final Fours. His Bruins lost to Florida in the semi-finals twice. It was an almost impossible job for anyone to be the head coach at UCLA following John Wooden. Howland is arguably the second-best coach to sit on the sidelines in Pauley Pavilion. If State losses it won't be Howland's fault. 

       Mississippi State will present a lot of problems for the Tide. They are solid both inside and outside. They have long wing spans, and they have hops. Adbul Ado is 6-11 and weighs 255 lbs.  Alabama will have a tough time defending him.  Ado is averaging 7 rebounds a game and has blocked 2 shots per game.  He anchors the Bulldog defense in the paint. He averages 5.7 ppg.  He'll have trouble running the floor against Bama.  Fatigue will become a factor for him.  The other half of the skyscraper interior is 6-11 Tolu Smith. He is averaging 8.8 boards an outing, and 13.5 ppg. He is long, strong, and very athletic.  The pair is going to cause some real problems inside.  State is one team that has the size to hurt the Tide's offensive rebounds. Smith will also have trouble keeping up with Bama's quickness and speed.  

       On offense, the Bulldogs have two All-SEC type players. Iverson Molinar, who is a guard, is averaging 17.4 ppg. He is 6-3 and will probably end up guarding  Josh Primo.  D.J.  Steward, Jr. who is a 6-6 two guard is also averaging 17.4 ppg, and is State's best player in my opinion. He has the length to give John Petty some trouble on the catch and shoot. Finally, point guard, Devion Smith, 6-1. 165 lbs rounds out the projected State starting lineup. Smith is quick and fast. Howland will depend on him to try to cut down Quinerly and Shackleford's penetration. 

        I think Bama will win this home game, but let me point out that the interior size of Adu and T. Smith's size will cause the Tide some problems.  The Bulldogs also have two prolific outside players, each of whom can penetrate the paint.  Oats wants to continue the hard-hat attitude on defense. State was embarrassed by rival Ole Miss in their last game. I'm betting the HailState crew will come in ready play a good game. 

        Bama wins by a dozen or more.