Hogs, Tide battle for redemptive result

Only one of Arkansas and Alabama will be able to rise, while the other will be left to fall again, after both teams saw themselves and their NCAA Tournament aspirations knocked down a peg this week.

Arkansas (19-9, 8-7 Southeastern Conference) and Alabama (17-11, 8-7) will tip off today at 5 p.m. on the SEC Network at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. They are locked in a six-way tie for third place in the league with Florida (17-11, 8-7), Kentucky (19-9, 8-7), Mississippi State (20-8, 8-7) and Missouri (18-10, 8-7).

Coach Avery Johnson’s Crimson Tide had won three of its last four games, including an 78-50 defeat of No. 19 Tennessee, before back-to-back road losses at Kentucky, 81-71, and Auburn (24-4,

12-3), 90-71.

The Tigers are ranked No. 12, but lost, 84-75, at South Carolina (15-13, 6-9) a week ago and lost starting forward Anfernee McLemore to a season-ending injury. Starting guard and second-leading scorer Mustapha Heron was not even available for the home win over Alabama.

Coach Mike Anderson’s Razorbacks had won our in a row and believed they would beat Kentucky at Bud Walton Arena Tuesday. The Razorbacks led 11-0, but fizzled in the second half of an

87-72 defense.

“Mike is a good friend and he’s got them playing some really good basketball at the right time in the season,” Johnson said on Monday’s SEC teleconference. “They had a little bit of a lag there in the middle of SEC play, but they’re coming on strong. They have some outstanding young players, but obviously the key to their team is their backcourt.”

Anderson said Alabama’s length, athleticism and ability to rebound is similar to Kentucky, whose length, athleticism and ability to rebound obliterated Arkansas.

Other than being a junior instead of a freshman, Alabama 6-9 forward Donta Hall is Kentucky-like in length, quickness and rebounding hops. Hall has blocked 64 shots, while developing a jump shot he did not have with such proficiency last season.

“The Donta Hall kid has really improved,” Anderson said. “They’ve added some really good players in (freshman guards Collin) Sexton and (John) Petty.”

Petty averages 10.6 points as Alabama’s third-leading scorer behind Sexton and Hall. Dazon Ingram, another athletic guard, averages 9.9 points and 5.7 boards per game.

Sexton, averaging 18.4 points and 3.4 assists, is considered one of the great freshman point guards in the country. Arkansas already has played against some great ones in Oklahoma’s Trae Young and LSU’s Tremont Waters.

“He’s like an energizer for their basketball team,” Anderson said. “A lot of things start with him. When he’s playing well, they are playing awfully well.”

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes simply calls Sexton “terrific.” LSU coach Will Wades calls Sexton the catalyst.

“How hard he competes rubs off on his team,” Wade said. “With their length and what they do defensively, when they are making shots they might be the best team in our league.”

Anderson knows his Hogs “are a very good team,” when they approach the game defense-first and rebound, which feeds into transition offense and spot up threes. Strong bench play from freshmen Darious Hall and Gabe Osabuohien, sophomore C.J. Jones and senior Trey Thompson help the team further excel.

Both teams will strive to right their ships from midweek torpedoes.

“There’s no way around it,” Anderson said. “It’s a big game.”