Alabama basketball vs. South Carolina: Score prediction, scouting report

Nick Kelly, The Tuscaloosa News
·3 min read
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Alabama basketball might have fallen one spot in the polls this week to No. 2 in the country, but it still sits light-years ahead of South Carolina.

The Gamecocks have struggled mightily in SEC play this season. They have won two of their past three against Ole Miss and LSU, but the Gamecocks have otherwise lost eight of their past 10 games.

Alabama and South Carolina are playing for different things right now. On one end, the Crimson Tide is fighting to win the SEC and finish atop the conference. On the other end of the SEC are the Gamecocks, battling not to finish last.

The two teams will face off on Wednesday (8 p.m., ESPN2) in Columbia, South Carolina.

Let's take a look at how South Carolina (10-17, 3-11 SEC) stacks up with No. 2 Alabama (23-4, 13-1).

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Projected starting lineup for South Carolina

Guard Meechie Johnson (junior): 6-foot-2, 172 pounds. Averages: 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 0 blocks, 2.4 turnovers.

Guard Jacobi Wright (sophomore): 6-2, 180. Averages: 6.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 0 blocks, 1 turnover.

Forward Hayden Brown (senior): 6-5, 225. Averages: 11.4 points, 5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.1 turnovers.

Forward Gregory Jackson II (freshman): 6-9, 210. Averages: 15.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.7 blocks, 2.6 turnovers.

Center Josh Gray (junior): 7-foot, 255. Averages: 4.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.3 steals, 0.9 blocks, 0.8 turnovers.

South Carolina's rotation

The Gamecocks have had eight players average 10 or more minutes per game this season, which is on the lighter side compared to most SEC teams Alabama has faced. Outside of the starters, Chico Carter Jr. (30.7 minutes per game), Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk (15.8 minutes) and Zachary Davis (12.8 minutes) have been the other main recipients of playing time.

The Crimson Tide could use its depth to wear out South Carolina.

South Carolina vs. Alabama in scoring, defense and tempo

KenPom tracks adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, which are points scored and allowed per 100 possessions. South Carolina doesn't have a stellar offense or defense.

Alabama and the Gamecocks are on opposite ends of the spectrum in how fast they will play. The Crimson Tide is one of the fastest in the country in tempo, while South Carolina is far from it at 315th. KenPom measures the adjusted tempo statistic based on the number of possessions per 40 minutes.

Adjusted offensive efficiency:

South Carolina: 103 (215th nationally)

Alabama: 117.4 (13th)

Adjusted defensive efficiency:

South Carolina: 107.8 (241st nationally)

Alabama: 89.5 (3rd)

Tempo

South Carolina: 65.0 (315th nationally)

Alabama: 73.6 (2nd)

Score prediction

Alabama 89, South Carolina 60: Unless the Crimson Tide decides not to come ready to play, it should have minimal trouble against the Gamecocks.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball vs. South Carolina: Score prediction, scouting