By Chris DePew
TideFans.com Staff
Nov. 21, 2017
Where to watch:Â Texas-Arlington (2-0) at No. 25 Alabama (3-0) – Today 8 p.m. Central, Coleman Coliseum, SEC Network
Who to watch: Donta Hall. The 6-foot-9 junior from Luverne has his toughest matchup yet on the young season against defending Sun Belt player of the year Kevin Hervey. The Mavericks forward averaged 17.1 points per game last season, but scored 28 in his season opener and 23 over the weekend in UTA’s 89-75 upset win at BYU. He can be a force on the glass (averaging 8.5 rebounds per game) but is more notable for his scoring touch, both behind the arc and at the foul line. Assuming he draws the defensive matchup, Hall will have to follow Hervey all over the floor, plus assert himself enough in Alabama’s offense to keep his counterpart on his heels.
What to watch for: How well a young team focuses on the task at hand. This has all the makings of a classic trap game, with the Crimson Tide pumped full of praise the last couple of weeks and a holiday trip to Brooklyn looming that includes a marquee matchup against No. 14 Minnesota. But the Mavericks aren’t impressed with big names, having bumped off Saint Mary’s and Texas on the way to 27 wins last season. UTA not only gets scoring punch from Hervey, an honorable mention All-American, but from do-everything point guard Erick Neal (17.5 ppg, 10.5 assists per game through two games). If Alabama’s freshman-heavy lineup isn’t dialed in mentally from the opening tip, it could find itself digging out of a hole all night.
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