Crimson Tide Rolls Into Nashville to Take on Commodores: Alabama at Vanderbilt

Alabama Crimson Tide at Vanderbilt Commodores, Memorial Gym, Nashville, TN
Thursday, February 10, 2011, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Vanderbilt -6 1/2
Current Line: Vanderbilt -6 1/2
Opening Total: 132
Current Total: 134 1/2
Money Line: Vanderbilt -300 / Alabama +250

Vanderbilt is a 6 1/2 point favorite at home versus Alabama in an SEC battle Thursday night.

If you asked most college basketball fans which team had the best record in SEC conference play, they would probably say Kentucky or Florida. They would be wrong at Alabama is 7-1 in conference play to lead the league. Alabama is 15-7 overall as they travel to Vanderbilt to take on the #24 ranked Commodores. Vanderbilt is 16-6 overall and a somewhat disappointing 4-4 in conference. Alabama has losses on the season to Seton Hall, Iowa, St. Peter’s, Purdue, Providence, Oklahoma St, and Arkansas on the season. Alabama is 11-2 in their last 13 games, and they have won 5 games in a row. Alabama won at Tennessee Saturday in overtime 65-60. The Tide also have wins over Mississippi St twice, South Carolina, Kentucky, Auburn, and LSU. Vanderbilt has losses to West Virginia, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida. The Commodores have wins over Nebraska, North Carolina, Marquette, Davidson, Georgia, Ole Miss, St. Mary’s (Ca), Mississippi St, and South Carolina. Vanderbilt won at home versus South Carolina 78-60 Saturday to snap a two game slide. Alabama leads the overall series against Vanderbilt 66-63 but hasn’t won at Memorial Gym since 1990. Vanderbilt has won 2 out the last three meetings, but Alabama is 2-1 ATS in those games. Two of those three have gone under as well.

Alabama Kendall Durant is out indefinitely with a foot injury. He has been out since December 11. Alabama is led by forward JaMychal Green. He is averaging 15.6 points to lead the team, 7.5 rebounds to tied for the team lead, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 2.1 blocks a game to lead the team. Forward Tony Mitchell averages 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.8 steals to lead the team, and 1.3 blocks a game. Guard Trevor Releford averages 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists to lead the team, and 1.4 steals a game. Guard Charvez Davis averages 9.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1 assist a game. Alabama is outscoring opponents 68-57 on the season, The Tide are shooting 45.3% from the field and 30.9% from 3-point range. Alabama holds opponents to 36.2% shooting from the field. The Crimson Tide make 72.4% from the free throw line. Alabama grabs 38.5 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +5. The Tide averages 13.2 assists and 14.8 turnovers a game. They force 15.8 turnovers a game on defense. The Tide averages 9.6 steals and 5.5 blocks a game.

Vanderbilt forward Andre Walker is listed as questionable versus Alabama with a foot injury. He hasn’t played since December 29. Vanderbilt is outscoring opponents 78-67 on the season. The Commodores are shooting 46.1% from the field and 37.6% from three point range. Vanderbilt is holding opponents to 39.5% shooting from the field. Vanderbilt is shooting 74.4% from the free throw line.Vanderbilt averages 38.5 rebounds and has a rebounding margin of +3.4. They average 13.9 assists and 14.2 turnovers a game. Vanderbilt forces 12.8 turnovers a game on defense. The Commodores average 5.4 steals and 5.1 blocks a game. Sophomore guard John Jenkins leads the Commodores in scoring with 19.2 points a game. He also averages 3.3 rebounds, and 1 assist a game and is shooting 40.9% from 3-point range. Forward Jeffery Taylor averages 14.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and leads the team in steals with 0.9 a game. Center Festus Ezeli averages 12.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and leads the team in blocks with 2.3 a game. Point guard Brad Tinsley averages 10.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game to lead the team. Forward Lance Goulbourne averages 7.7 points and 7.6 rebounds to lead the team, and 1.5 assists a game.

Alabama is one of the best defensive teams in the country both in scoring defense and opponents field goal percentage. Vanderbilt would prefer to play the game in the 70’s and Alabama with try to slow it down to the 60’s or maybe even the 50’s. Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym is one of the toughest places to play in the country because of its unique design. The benches are located behind the goal rather than along the sidelines as usual. It makes it harder for coaches to give instructions to their players when the team is playing offense or defense at the other goal. I think this game will be close.