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Kentucky vs Alabama: 2021-22 SEC Basketball game preview, TV schedule

By Matt Melton

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 05: TyTy Washington Jr. #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats looks to maneuver the ball by Keon Ellis #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum on February 05, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - FEBRUARY 05: TyTy Washington Jr. #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats looks to maneuver the ball by Keon Ellis #14 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum on February 05, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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2021-22 SEC Basketball Game Preview: No. 4 Kentucky vs No. 25 Alabama

When: Saturday, February 19 at 1:00 pm ET on CBS

Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY

A loaded and important Saturday slate in SEC Basketball with the SEC Tournament drawing near, Alabama traveling to Kentucky for a Top 25 showdown is arguably the top matchup of the day.

A team that has only continued to rise in recent weeks, Kentucky enters this contest off their third loss of SEC play this season after falling at Tennessee 76-63 on Tuesday night. A loss which snapped the Wildcats six-game winning streak that dated back to January 25, Kentucky did claim a lead early, but fell behind mid-way through the first half where they never led again.

The No. 4 ranked team in the country, Kentucky currently sits at second in the SEC at 10-3, as well as 21-5 overall. A Top 10 team nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency (KenPom), the Wildcats average 80.6 PPG, as well as allowing only 64.7 PPG.

The Wildcats are led by the arguable SEC Player of the Year favorite in star center Oscar Tshiebwe (16.2 PPG, 15.3 RPG), as well as freshman guard TyTy Washington Jr who is dealing with an injury at the moment. If Washington is unavailable, Kellan Grady, Sahvir Wheeler, and Davion Mintz will likely see increased minutes in the backcourt, while Keion Brooks Jr, Jacob Toppin, Daimion Collins (10 points, 6 rebounds vs Alabama previously), and Lance Ware will all see time.

Alabama comes to Lexington as winners of three-straight, including an 80-75 win over Mississippi State at home on Wednesday night. Despite struggling from three-point range (20%, 6-for-30), the Crimson Tide did out-rebound the Bulldogs 48-36, as well as shooting 44.4% from the field.

Back above-.500 in SEC play at 7-6 (17-9 overall), the Crimson Tide are ranked as the No. 25 team in the country in the AP Poll, as well as the No. 21 team according to the NET rankings. Owning seven Quad 1 wins this season, Alabama is also one of the top offensive teams in the SEC averaging 80.4 PPG, but have struggled at times defensively allowing 75.5 PPG.

Led by the backcourt group of Jaden Shackelford, Jahvon Quinerly, Keon Ellis, and JD Davison, the Crimson Tide have also gotten strong play in recent games from freshman center Charles Bediako who added 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 blocks vs Mississippi State. In addition to Bediako, each of Juwan Gary, Noah Gurley, Darius Miles, and James Rojas will likely see extensive time against the Wildcats.

A rematch of a 66-55 Kentucky win inside Coleman Coliseum earlier this month, this will surely be a different Alabama team coming to town on Saturday (aka Alabama won’t likely shoot 3-for-30 from three again). However, even if the Crimson Tide shoot well in this game, will it be enough to beat the Wildcats inside Rupp?

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Alabama owns some impressive wins this season, but have struggled at times on the road as they are 2-5 on the year. The Crimson Tide certainly are more-than-capable of coming to Lexington and leaving with a win, but I’ll say that Kentucky wins a close, and very-entertaining SEC Basketball matchup on Saturday afternoon.

Prediction: Kentucky 78, Alabama 74

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