Tide Basketball Plays Saturday

It’s not reasonable to expect a very large crowd at Alabama’s basketball game Saturday. That’s not a reflection on the impressive start the Crimson Tide has had this season. It’s not even because the opponent, Louisiana-Monroe, has a losing record.

Alabama will host Louisiana-Monroe at noon Saturday in Coleman Coliseum. For most Crimson Tide fans, who are frequently football fans first, that’s too close to kickoff of the Alabama-Florida SEC football title game in Atlanta.

Coach Anthony Grant’s Bama team is now 5-2 on the season. Louisiana-Monroe, winless in five previous meetings against the Crimson Tide, is 3-4 this season. The visiting Warhawks are coached by Orlando Early, a former Alabama assistant coach (2001-05). He has been at Louisiana-Monroe for five years and has a 51-77 record.

This is the second of a current four-game homestand for Bama. The Tide defeated North Florida Wednesday. Bama hit a season-high nine three-point shots in that 73-51 win.  

Tony Mitchell got his first start for Alabama last Wednesday and responded with 17 points and seven rebounds. Bama is led by JaMychal Green (14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds) in the post and Mikhail Torrance (15.7 points, 5.2 assists) at guard.

The Warhawks are led by guard Tony Hooper, who averages 13.7 points per game.