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Alabama Looks to Regroup Against High-Flying Missouri
After a tough 94-85 loss to No. 1 Auburn, No. 4 Alabama (21-4, 10-2 SEC) must quickly refocus as it travels to Columbia, Missouri, to take on No. 15 Missouri (19-6, 8-4 SEC) in a crucial SEC battle on Wednesday night.
Missouri boasts a 16-1 home record and has been one of the biggest turnaround stories in college basketball after going winless in conference play last season. Meanwhile, Alabama will be aiming to tighten up its defense and find more efficiency on offense as it tries to maintain positioning for a top NCAA Tournament seed.
Alabama Needs More From Mark Sears
Alabama coach Nate Oats didn’t hold back in his assessment of star guard Mark Sears, who struggled against Auburn, shooting just 4-of-17 from the field and 2-of-11 from three-point range.
“Obviously, he’s a competitor. He wants to win at a high level,” Oats said. “Yet, he was 2 of 6 at the rim, and those are typically the more efficient shots you’d get.”
Sears leads the Crimson Tide with 17.8 points per game, but his overall field goal percentage (39.7%) and three-point percentage (34.5%) are both down from last season.
Oats also stressed that Sears needs to improve defensively and as a playmaker if Alabama wants to reach its full potential.
“We’ve got to be able to play hard when the shots aren’t falling,” Oats said. “Maybe sometimes (Sears) needs to get 10 assists.”
The loss to Auburn also cost Alabama a shot at taking over the No. 1 spot in the national rankings. Now, the Crimson Tide need to prove they can bounce back against another tough SEC opponent.
Missouri Is a Completely Different Team at Home
The Tigers have been dominant at home this season (16-1), and their recent form suggests they will be a difficult challenge for Alabama.
After beating Oklahoma 82-58 at home, Missouri followed it up with an impressive 87-74 road win over Georgia, showcasing its offensive depth and defensive intensity.
Despite going 0-18 in SEC play last year, Missouri guard Tamar Bates insists the Tigers aren’t focused on proving doubters wrong.
“I don’t really think it’s a thing of us trying to prove anybody wrong at this point,” Bates told SEC Network. “We’re just proving ourselves right. We know who we are, we know who we’ve got in that locker room, and at the end of the day, we’re gonna keep playing ball.”
Bates leads Missouri in scoring with 13.4 points per game, while forward Mark Mitchell (12.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG) and sharpshooter Caleb Grill (12.8 PPG, 46.7% 3PT) provide additional firepower.
The Tigers excel at ball movement and efficiency, as head coach Dennis Gates praised his team’s 18 assists, 3 turnovers, and 9 steals in their latest win over Georgia.
“We just fought back in the second half,” Gates said. “We put up 49 points.”
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Key Matchups to Watch
| Category | Alabama | Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 21-4 (10-2) | 19-6 (8-4) |
| PPG Leader | Mark Sears (17.8) | Tamar Bates (13.4) |
| Rebounds Leader | Grant Nelson (7.2) | Mark Mitchell (4.7) |
| Last Meeting | Alabama 78-66 | – |
Can Alabama Handle Missouri’s Home-Court Advantage?
Alabama enters this matchup hungry for a bounce-back win, but Missouri has been nearly unbeatable at home this season.
For Alabama, Mark Sears needs a more efficient offensive performance, while the defense must limit Missouri’s three-point shooting and ball movement.
Missouri, on the other hand, will look to exploit Alabama’s defensive gaps and continue its strong home form.
Can Alabama shake off the Auburn loss and reassert its dominance, or will Missouri keep rolling in Columbia?
Tip-Off: Wednesday, 9:00 PM ET
Location: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO
TV: ESPN
