By Chris DePew
TideFans.com Staff
Jan. 8, 2019
Where to watch: Alabama (10-3, 1-0 SEC – #59 Pomeroy Rating) at LSU (10-3 – #42) – Today 8 p.m. Central, Pete Maravich Assembly Center, SEC Network
Who to watch: Kira Lewis. The freshman from Meridanville has hit a speed bump the last three games, if not the dreaded wall, shooting 10-for-23 from the field and getting off to particularly slow starts in the first half. He came on strong at the foul line to finish with 17 points at Stephen F. Austin and hit a couple of timely 3-pointers in a 12-point game against Kentucky, but also had seven turnovers combined in those two games. There’s nowhere really to hide him on defense against LSU, which is overloaded with backcourt talent, but Avery Johnson may not be able to leave him on the bench for long either if the game turns into a track meet.
What to watch for: Staying competitive on defense. The Tigers average 80 points per game and didn’t drop off against Top 25 competition, averaging 75.7 while dropping close games versus Florida State and Houston and blowing out Furman. And LSU gets it done the old fashioned way, driving to the basket, finishing at the rim, hitting nearly three-quarters of their free throws and making just enough 3s (7.2 per game). Four players average 10 or more points per game, led by junior guard Skylar Mays. If the Crimson Tide sneaks out of Baton Rouge with a win it will be a terrific accomplishment.
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