By Chris DePew
TideFans.com Staff
Jan. 28, 2017
Where to watch: Mississippi State (13-6, 4-3 SEC) at Alabama (12-7, 5-2) – Today 5 p.m. Central, Coleman Coliseum, SEC Network
Who to watch: Dazon Ingram. SEC play has been a humbling experience for the redshirt freshman, who was on track for the worst game of his short career Wednesday at Georgia before pulling out of a slump late by driving to the basket and drawing fouls to help ice the upset at the line. But he could be poised for a bounce back today. Not only is he back home, but he can draw on the success he experienced in Starkville to begin the month. In the first matchup with MSU, Ingram had 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists as the Crimson Tide pulled out a 68-58 win. That win feels more impressive than it did at the time, considering the Bulldogs turned around and beat Arkansas and Texas A&M as part of a three-game win streak before giving Kentucky a scare in a close loss.
What to watch for: Quashing the Q. State’s Quinndary Weatherspoon has scored in double figures in 12 out of his last 13 games but only managed seven against the Tide back on Jan. 3, when Bama was as focused on defense as it has been all season. Alabama has a habit of sending high-scoring guards into shooting slumps, but it isn’t a given. Weatherspoon only scored eight against Alabama in a home loss last year but struck back for 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting in Tuscaloosa as MSU sprang an upset that started the Crimson Tide’s late-season tailspin out of NCAA tournament contention.
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