Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeBasketballTide needs more 3s to thrive against Mississippi State

Tide needs more 3s to thrive against Mississippi State

By Chris DePew
TideFans.com Staff
Jan. 29, 2019

Where to watch: No. 22 Mississippi State (15-4, 3-3 SEC – #26 Pomeroy Rating) at Alabama (12-7, 3-3 – #46) – Today 7:30 p.m. Central, Coleman Coliseum, SEC Network

Who to watch: Tevin Mack. Listed at 6-foot-6, Mack has had to play more of an undersized power forward role instead of his more natural fit as a combo guard. After scoring at the rim early and often against Baylor, it isn’t likely that MSU and its seemingly unlimited supply of 6-foot-10 rim protectors will let him get so comfortable on the low blocks. But if he can establish his mid-range and outside jumpers, that could draw a Bulldog out for an uncomfortable matchup and create breathing room for Donta Hall, not to mention driving guards like John Petty or Dazon Ingram.

What to watch for: If 3-point success can become contagious. In five of the Crimson Tide’s seven losses, it has had only one or at most two players who made multiple 3-pointers, while their teammates dented the rims with brick after brick. Against Baylor it was Riley Norris who was perfect behind the arc while his teammates were 1-for-13. Petty and Kira Lewis combined for nine treys at Tennessee but everyone else in crimson shot 1-for-10 from deep. Likewise Petty made a half-dozen 3s versus Texas A&M, but nobody else had more than one as the rest of the team went 4-for-16 collectively from long range. The Bulldogs can be vulnerable to giving up 3-pointers and Bama must take advantage to keep up in what figures to be a high-scoring game.

Follow Chris DePew on Twitter @TideFansChris

RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment -

Most Popular