An unconventional spread on tap? That’s when the weirdness begins.
Much of what else might take your attention away from college basketball is beginning to wind down. College football is over; we’re down to the short rows in the NFL. The NBA and NHL are hitting the midseason lull, international soccer is on the rebound and there’s no Olympics in 2023 to concern yourself with, should you care to. But still. It’s a lot. So much to watch, keep track of, gamble on (if that’s your thing), tweet about while you can. You’re but one person, with a phone and a tv and a laptop, maybe an iPad, perhaps another tv or two… my point is, you have a finite number of screens to devote to Division I hoops the next couple of days. Let me help you with your weekend viewing plans.
As always, the weekend starts at 7 p.m. ET on Friday; apologies to Ball State and Kent State jumping the gun on a sharp mid-major tilt. .
Must Watch (Times ET)
No. 4 Alabama at Missouri, 6 p.m., Saturday (SEC Network)
Here’s what we know:
Alabama is a perennially stout program (thanks local Tuscaloosa Name, Image Likeness creators!) enhanced by a Gundam moonlighting as a freshman basketball player. Nate Oats has not built a Saban-level war dog suitable for annihilating enemies and toppling regimes as a matter of simple course, but he’s done pretty well for himself.
Missouri is… annoying? That doesn’t feel right. Annoying doesn’t leap off the page. The Tigers play opportunistic basketball, forcing nearly 19 turnovers per game, and they have to because opponents are hitting 44.9 percent from the field against Missouri. If they get a shot off, it’s basically a coin flip that it’s going in.
Missouri plays fast; Alabama plays faster. They rank ninth and tenth, respectively, in scoring. Alabama has Brandon Miller and a world-class ability to get to the line, averaging 25 free-throws as a team per night. Alabama has the superior team, on paper—the same could be said for Arkansas, Kentucky, and Illinois lately.