The Alabama Crimson Tide (13-7) are set to take on the #12 ranked Oklahoma Sooners (15-4) on Saturday at 1:15 CST. In what could be the highest anticipated matchup of the year for Alabama, two of the top players in the country get to battle it out on a national stage. Collin Sexton and Trae Young are touted as two of the top point guards in college basketball and are both projected to be top 10 picks in this year’s NBA draft. Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa is completely sold out in anticipation for this matchup.
Trae Young is the most exciting basketball player to grace the college courts in a long time. The Norman, Oklahoma native is leads the country with 30.0 PPG. Along with scoring more than anyone in the country, Young is also leading in assists with 9.6 per game. Young is a special player that has the potential to score from anywhere across half court.
Meanwhile for the Crimson Tide, Collin Sexton is also regarded as one of the top point guards in the country, but not quite on Young’s level. Sexton averages 18.5 PPG and 3.4 APG and quickly jumped on the radar this season when he dropped 22 in his first appearance in crimson. His electric personality and hard work ethic makes him that much more fun to watch.
In my opinion, neither of these players are going to win the game for their teams. The difference maker will be the contribution from the other players. Players like John Petty, Donta Hall, Herbert Jones, Dazon Ingram, and Daniel Giddens will all have to play their best games against this Oklahoma squad if they want to come out with a win. Alabama will have to slow down Christian James and Brady Manek, both averaging double digits per game.
Preparation and Discipline
Turnovers will be a deciding factor tomorrow afternoon, and whoever can limit their mistakes, will have an easier task tomorrow. I see Young hanging about 20, and Sexton will put up 15 or so, but they’ll both have to distribute the ball to their teammates. It’ll be the role players who determine the outcome of this game. Can Alabama’s big men control the paint or will Oklahoma’s guards be able to score at will?
Prediction:
Oklahoma – 74
Alabama – 69