GAME GLANCE: Tough road game in Tuscaloosa
Is John Calipari right? Is Kentucky moving in the right direction with March Madness only about a month away?
Today is the Cats' next opportunity to start trending in the right direction.
Kentucky at Alabama, 1 p.m.
TV: CBS
RADIO: UK Sports Network
LINE: Kentucky -7
SERIES HISTORY: Kentucky leads 108-37
LAST MEETING: Kentucky won 85-59 on March 11, 2016 in the SEC Tournament
Alabama Statistical Leaders
Brandon Key - 11.8 PPG (.433 FG/.357 3-pt/.626 FT), 6.0 RPG, 48 assists
Dazon Ingram - 10.1 PPG (.507/.464/.637), 4.6 RPG, 82 assists, 27 steals
Riley Norris - 9.0 PPG (.395/.313/.766), 4.0 RPG, 21 steals
Corban Collins - 7.8 PPG (.366/.348/.625), 2.1 RPG, 31 assists
Avery Johnson Jr. - 7.2 PPG (.353/.343/.786), 35 assists
Ar'Mond Davis - 6.4 PPG (.336/.295/.857)
Donta Hall - 5.8 PPG (.655/.000/.558), 5.7 RPG, 36 blocks
Jimmie Taylor - 5.4 PPG (.614/.000/.500), 3.8 RPG, 34 blocks
Notes
Kentucky has won six consecutive games against Alabama dating back to January 22, 2013, when the Tide beat the Cats 59-55 in Tuscaloosa. John Calipari is 10-2 against Alabama since taking over at Kentucky before the 2009-2010 season. Alabama's only other win against a Calipari-coached UK team was during the 2010-11 season.
Overall Alabama has defeated Kentucky 37 times. Only Tennessee (69), Vanderbilt (47) and Florida (38) have defeated Kentucky more times than the Tide.
Alabama is 23-30 in home games against Kentucky all-time.
Just two Alabama players (Braxton Key and Dazon Ingram) average double-digits in the scoring column. Balance has been important to the Tide, and eight Alabama players have started six or more games during the 2016-17 season.
Alabama is coming off a 90-86 four-overtime victory on the road against South Carolina, then the SEC's top team according to the standings. The Tide is now 14-9 (7-4 SEC), and a win against Kentucky could improve their chances at a once-improbable late push for the NCAA Tournament.
Avery Johnson Jr., led Alabama with 23 points in the Tide's win against the Gamecocks. Ar'Mond Davis chipped in with 19 points. South Carolina shot 50 free throws in the game.
Saturday's game against Kentucky is just Alabama's fourth game this season against a Top 25 opponent. Aside from their victory over the Gamecocks, Avery Johnson's squad has lost to No. 5 Oregon (65-56, when the Ducks were ranked No. 24) and Florida (80-67).
Alabama lost their last home game, 82-77 against Auburn, and that earlier loss to Florida was also at Coleman Coliseum.
Former Kentucky player John Pelphrey is in his first season as associate head coach at Alabama on Johnson's staff.
Since Johnson took over as Alabama's head coach the Tide has a 5-5 record against Top 25 foes.
Malik Monk leads the SEC in scoring at 21.9 points per game. De'Aaron Fox is Kentucky and the SEC's leading assist man at 5.5 per game.
Kentucky defeated Alabama three times last season. Alex Poythress, now in the NBA's Developmental League, was the Cats' top performer, aside from Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray, over those three games.
Saturday's game should be a contrast in playing styles, which Kentucky ought to be used to by now. While the Cats average 90.2 points per game (88.7 in SEC play), Alabama plays games at a much lower scoring average (70.3 PPG, 66.0 PPG allowed).
Kentucky is .492 to Alabama's .423 from the field on average. However, in SEC play Kentucky is allowing opponents to shoot .455 from the field while the Crimson Tide allows opponents to shoot just .407. Kentucky is better from long range (.357 to .321). The two teams' three-point defense is an identical .364 in SEC play.
Alabama is a turnover-prone team, handing it over to opponents an average of 15.5 times per game. The Tide is +6.6 per game on the glass, which tops Kentucky's +4.8 margin. The difference between the two teams on the glass has been even more pronounced in conference play (Alabama +8.5, Kentucky +4.2).