Chris Stewart Sports

10:45 pm CST - Looking ahead to Wednesday...

I hope everybody had a good weekend. It was great to see the Tide pick up a much-needed win against Miss. State. Alabama needs to keep the momentum going against a wounded LSU team, that is the last SEC squad without a league victory.

Tipoff Wednesday night is set for 7, with air time on the Crimson Tide Sports Network beginning at 6:30. You can hear the game on affiliate stations around Alabama, as well as on XM Radio Channel 201.

Time won't always allow it, but I hope to share some of my game notes with you from time-to-time. Here are just a few that I will be using on the game broadcast, courtesy of UA Basketball SID Ty Patton and LSU's Kent Lowe.

Wednesday’s Game

• Alabama wraps up a three-game homestand Wednesday evening when it welcomes LSU to Coleman Coliseum.

• The Crimson Tide is 12-7 on the season and 2-3 in Southeastern Conference action after defeating No. 23 Mississippi State, 62-57, on Saturday.

• The win was the Tide’s second over a ranked opponent this season.

• LSU is 9-10 this season and winless in SEC action with an 0-5 record including a 66-49 loss to Alabama in the league opener in Baton Rouge.

• The Tigers are 0-3 on the road this season.

• In its most recent outing, LSU fell at home to Mississippi by a 73-63 margin at home.

• Alabama’s defense has been its hallmark as of late with six of its last seven opponents shooting less than 40 percent from the field.

• SEC opponents are a combined 38.5 from the field against the Tide.

• On paper, Wednesday’s game should be a low-scoring affair as Alabama is averaging just 61.4 points per game in league play while LSU is averaging 61.6. However, the Tigers are surrendering 72.4 points to their opponents while Alabama is allowing just 61 points per game with only Arkansas scoring 70 or more points.

• While the Tide’s shooting has struggled recently, the team’s top three scorers (Torrance, Green, Mitchell) are all shooting better than 50 percent from the field.

• JaMychal Green just missed his fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and nine rebounds against Mississippi State. The sophomore is averaging 15.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on 52.6 percent shooting.

• After Tennessee limited him to just three points, Mikhail Torrance returned to form with a game high 20 points, his fifth 20-point performance of the season, against Mississippi State.

• Freshman Tony Mitchell made his second consecutive start and hauled in a game-high 12 rebounds against Mississippi State. In the last two games, the freshman is averaging 8.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.

• LSU is paced by Tasmin Mitchell’s 17.9 point and 9.5 rebounds per game. Against SEC competition, he is averaging 19.0 points and converting on 51.4 percent of his shots.

• Bo Spencer and Storm Warren also average double-figures with 15.3 and 13.5 points per game, respectively. 

LAST MEETING

- Sophomore forward JaMychal Green led Alabama with 14 points, four rebounds and a blocked shot. Junior forward Justin Knox scored nine points and collected seven rebounds to set the tone inside for the Tide.

- Alabama’s defense held LSU to 37% (17-of-46) from the field and forced 15

turnovers, while the offense connected on 45% (27-of-60) of its shots from the field.

- LSU has gotten better offensively, playing well at times in every game and scoring 80 points against Auburn and 63 against nationally-ranked Ole Miss.  It was a 9-0 run that sealed LSU’s fate against Auburn late and a 12-5 run in the last six minutes that Ole Miss used to outlast the Tigers. 

- LSU’s last two opponents have shot over 50% against the Tigers while LSU shot 44% against Auburn and 40% against Ole Miss.

 Tasmin Mitchell-F - Sr. 6-7, 238,  Denham Springs, LA

Third in league in scoring, second in rebounds ... Had  38 pts & 10 rebs vs AU, 2nd highest scoring game in career ... Hit 15-of-22 FGs w/four treys ... Came back with another double vs OM (1/23) ... Eight double-doubles this year ... One of 9 players to start on 2 SEC championship teams at LSU ... 8th all-time on LSU scoring list with 1,809 points ... On pace to be all-time leader in minutes played ... Trying to get 2,000 career pts at LSU