Bruce Previews Bama

[aubiefifty 16,798]

 

[aubiefifty 16,798]

Tale of the Tape: Comparing the Tigers and Tide ahead of Wednesday’s showdown

Taylor Jones

Tue, January 23, 2024 at 2:00 PM CST·2 min read

One of the most anticipated showdowns of the SEC slate will take place on Wednesday night in Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.

The No. 6 Auburn Tigers will put its 11-game win streak on the line when they face Alabama for the first time during the 2023-24 season. The Tigers also have another opportunity to earn its first quad 1 victory after failing in its two previous attempts.

The Tigers sit atop the SEC standings as the conference’s lone unbeaten team since league play began on Jan. 6. The Crimson Tide suffered its first loss last Saturday to No. 5 Tennessee. Both teams have solid shooters and players who are tough to score on. Which team has the advantage?

Ahead of Wednesday’s action, we have broken down each team’s resume, as well as key stats and records for Auburn and Alabama. Here is the “Tale of the Tape.”

Rankings comparison

Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

AUBURN

ALABAMA

16-2 (5-0)

Record (SEC)

12-6 (4-1)

No. 6

USA TODAY Coaches Poll

Receiving votes

No. 8

AP ranking

Receiving votes

No. 7

NET ranking

No. 8

No. 5

ESPN BPI ranking

No. 6

No. 1

SEC ranking

No. 4

No. 5

KenPom ranking

No. 8

 

Stats comparison

Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

AUBURN

ALABAMA

83.7

Points per game

89.2

65.3

Points allowed per game

74.9

39.1

Rebounds per game

39.3

18.5

Assists per game

15.5

Johni Broome (15.3)

Leading scorer

Mark Sears (19.8)

Johni Broome (8.4)

Leading rebounder

Grant Nelson (5.8)

Tre Donaldson (3.4)

Leading assists

Aaron Estrada (3.9)

 

Resume comparison

© Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK

AUBURN

ALABAMA

0-2

Quad 1 

2-5

6-0

Quad 2

2-1

5-0

Quad 3

4-0

5-0

Quad 4

4-0

10-0

Home record

8-1

6-2

Away/Neutral record

4-5

Virginia Tech (No. 51 in NET ranking)

Best win

Indiana State (No. 26 in NET ranking)

 

Final analysis

The Montgomery Advertiser

Alabama has played a more challenging schedule than Auburn but has not proven themselves to be a better team than the Tigers to this point. Auburn has played incredible basketball over the last month and will face its greatest test yet in Alabama on Wednesday.

You can expect both teams to play with high intensity, especially Alabama considering the game will be played in front of its home fans. Mistakes have to be limited, and the play of Chad Baker-Mazara, Dylan Cardwell, KD Johnson, and Tre Donaldson off the bench will need to remain consistent. If both of those factors work out for the Tigers, you can expect a close win by the visitors on Wednesday night.

Story originally appeared on Auburn Wire