Bama heads to Knoxville in a key SEC game...

Will Bediado play?

       Alabama is now #1 in the AP and USA Today Coaches polls. I've noticed some fans say being # doesn't matter. I see their point. After all, the NCAA Tournament is only #1, which matters. Being ranked does matter to most Tide fans. Mark Gottfried was the last Alabama coach with a team ranked #1. The year was 2002. I remember sitting courtside watching Kennedy Winston and company get off to a dynamic start that season. After an 11-1 start, things went in the opposite direction. Alabama finished the year with a 17-12 record, including a loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament and subsequently to Indiana in the NCAA Tournament. By all standards, it was sad sack season.

      This team is different. Oats has found a way to play ten players each game and keep the pedal to the metal. That's rare in college basketball. Late in the second half, you can tell that Alabama players are more energetic. That extra pep in their step has led to solid finishes. 

     Tonight the Tide takes on Tennessee in Knoxville. There are no pit stops in the SEC. Bama might not play Charles Bediako. Tennessee is without J.J. James, according to Rick Barnes. The Vols could be without Julian Phillips. Most observers think that James is the best Vol defender. He would have been guarding Brandon Miller. The Tide needs a big game from their leading scorer. The Tennessee guards, Santiago Vescovi and Zakia Zeigler, are capable of scoring a lot of points. Vescovi is their best outside shooter. Zeigler is also a good shooter and can drive and dish. 

    The Vols open up as a 3-point favorite. Chalk that number up the homecourt advantage and the best defense in the SEC. KenPom.com believes that Tennessee has the Vols' leading teams in adjusted defense. That means that Tennessee gives up the fewest points per offensive possession. Alabama is 5th. The bottom line is that both teams can play some hard-nosed defense. On the offensive side of the numbers, Kenpom believes Alabama is the 13th in the nation in scoring points. Tennessee comes in at a lackluster 49th.  

    The question regarding tonight's game. Can the Alabama offense overcome the homecourt advantage and the nations leading defense? The Tide is capable of doing that.