By Chris DePew
TideFans.com Staff
March 2, 2019
Where to watch: No. 13 LSU (23-5, 13-2 SEC – #21 Pomeroy Rating) at Alabama (17-11, 8-7 – #56) – Today 11 a.m. Central, Coleman Coliseum, ESPN
Who to watch: Herbert Jones. If ever a time existed for Jones to find his lost mojo, the rematch with LSU could be it. He had probably his second-best game of the season in Baton Rouge, putting up 10 points, five rebounds and five assists. As Bama’s best defender, it would certainly be nice to have him in the game to counter the high-scoring Tigers, particularly with player of the year candidate Tremont Waters expected back from an illness, but he has to be a credible offensive threat to justify minutes. Jones lost his starting job three games ago, but John Petty has gone back into another scoring slump now that he’s no longer the sixth man. This could be the day Jones can take control and start writing a better ending to a season gone wrong.
What to watch for: Can the Crimson Tide at least hold its own on the glass? Rebounding was something of a team strength in the preseason, but Bama has gotten badly exposed in conference play, losing the battle of the boards in seven of its last 10 games. And wouldn’t you know it, LSU is a terror on the offensive glass. The Tigers average 12.2 offensive rebounds a game (third nationally) and rebound their own misses at a 36.6 percent rate (fifth-best in the country). Donta Hall will have his work cut out for him, as well as Bama’s guards.
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