By Chris DePew
TideFans.com Staff
Jan. 17, 2018
Where to watch: Alabama (11-6, 3-2 SEC) vs. No. 17 Auburn (16-1, 4-0) – Today 6 p.m. Central, Coleman Coliseum, SEC Network
Who to watch: Braxton Key. The sophomore forward has yet to score in double figures in seven games after averaging a team-high 12 points last season. After a brutal first few games back from meniscus surgery, Key has shown occasional flashes of his old scoring touch, but has become more important for the grit and versatile defense he brings to the table. With Bama down to nine healthy scholarship players at the moment – eight of them freshmen or sophomores – its best bet to compete with the high-scoring Tigers is to turn the game into a grinding affair, and Key is well suited to the dirty work of setting screens, grabbing rebounds and harassing shooters whether they’re in the paint or on the perimeter.
What to watch for: A quick start from the home team. Auburn sits atop the SEC and owns the nation’s longest winning streak at 14 games. But in their last two games, the Tigers fell behind by double figures before rallying past Ole Miss and at Mississippi State. Auburn is a deep team with well-balanced scoring and a history of recent success against the Crimson Tide. Frankly Alabama was going to need luck to upset the Tigers even before the loss of Donta Hall, and now it is more crucial than ever that they build some early confidence and are able to feed off the energy of what should be the year’s most raucous home crowd.
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