Alabama will return to the court on Sunday evening as it hosts Appalachian State.
The Crimson Tide started off the new season with an 82-62 victory over Southern earlier in the week, despite starting point guard Dazon Ingram being sidelined with an ankle injury.
As for the Mountaineers, they grabbed a 125-62 opening-night win over Mars Hill.
Let’s take a look at what to watch for in this game.
Game Details
- Appalachian State at Alabama
- Location: Coleman Coliseum – Tuscaloosa, AL
- Game Date: Nov. 11
- Game Time: 7 p.m. EST
- Watch: SEC Network
Players to Watch
John Petty (Alabama)
The 6-5 guard got his sophomore season off on the right foot by scoring 17 points and connecting on 5 of 8 shots from beyond the arc.
Petty will be the key to Alabama’s success this season, and the hope is that he can be the go-to-scorer when the Crimson Tide need a bucket in close games.
We still don’t know how improved he’ll be on the road (18.5 percent from long range in SEC road games in ’17-18), but he’s been very good in Tuscaloosa and should continue to expand his overall game as the season progresses.
Kira Lewis (Alabama)
Lewis got thrown into the mix right away due to Ingram’s injury, as the 5-star freshman started and played 29 minutes against Southern.
While he scored just six points, he added seven assists and looked comfortable in his role despite still only being 17 years old (reclassified from 2019 class).
With Ingram expected to be a game-time decision, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lewis back on the court for extended minutes against an opponent that features really good guard play.
Ronshad Shabazz (Appalachian State)
Shabazz averaged 18.5 points per game last season and will put up plenty of shots in this one.
The 6-5 senior has been a prolific scorer since he stepped onto campus in Raleigh – averaging at least 12 points per game every season – and that may give him an opportunity to find a spot at the next level once he graduates.
He had 14 games of 20 or more points in ’17-18, so Alabama must do everything it can to limit his production.
Key Stats
Alabama committed 20 turnovers against Southern without Ingram running the show, and that’s a trend worth watching if he doesn’t play in this game.
Another area that should decide the outcome of this game is perimeter shooting.
The Tide have been typically good at defending the 3-point shot in recent years and finished 48th nationally in that category a season ago (32.8 percent), which will be important since the Mountaineers will put up plenty of shots from long distance.
Game Outlook
- Spread: Alabama – 14
- Over/Under: 144.5
- KenPom Projection: Alabama, 88 percent chance to win
- ESPN BPI Projection: Alabama, 89.8 percent chance to win
Appalachian State isn’t the type of team that will back down from a challenge, and Shabazz is capable of taking over a game at a moment’s notice.
Having Ingram available would be a nice boost for Alabama, as there should be a lot of fast-paced guard play on display.
One of Appalachian State’s biggest weaknesses last season was consistent defensive play on the perimeter, but aside from Petty, Alabama may not pose a huge threat in that department.
What will likely decide this game will be the action inside, and that advantage goes to Donta Hall and potential breakout sophomores Alex Reese and Galin Smith.
Season Predictions Record (straight up): 19-3
Game Prediction: Alabama 83, Appalachian State 74
For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.