TIDE NEEDS TO BEAT MISSOURI TO KEEP POSTSEASON HOPES ALIVE

KESSENS, COLEMAN, HALE QUESTIONABLE

THE MAN FOR 'BAMA

      Anyone who thinks that Missouri is a pit stop because they are at the bottom of the SEC race might want to reconsider. Did you watch the Missouri vs. Ole Miss game earlier in the week? Missouri had a late five-point lead and appeared to have the game in the bag. Ole Miss then drops in three long three-point baskets and suddenly the Rebels win 76-73. The Tigers lost but they didn't look like a bad basketball team. Wes Clark, the team leader, is one heck of a point guard. The match-up between Baldwin and Obasahan will likely determine the winner of Saturday's game. That is going to be the game within the game. Two of the NCAA's better point guards get to square off man to man so to speak. The nation may not know much about either of these great players, but ask anyone around the SEC and they understand just how underrated the pair is viewed. While the game may be between two teams fighting to keep out of the cellar, it will be a good game. For the Tide, it is a game they need to win. 

     If Alabama has any hope of reaching the post-season they have to win this key game. Although Missouri is 8-14 overall and is 1-8 in the SEC they have come close to winning a lot of games. In that respect, they are a lot like the Tide. The Tigers saw their season fall apart when it was disclosed that Missouri had numerous NCAA violations. The Tigers will not be eligible to play in the SEC Tournament. That was a self-imposed penalty. Missouri also gave up one scholarship as well. It remains to be seen if the NCAA will accept these penalties as enough to keep from additional sanctions. None of the violations were under Coach Kim Anderson or his staff. It's hard to gauge what effect these revelations have on the Missouri team. They certainly haven't rolled over and died. They continue to play hard-nosed basketball, but just like Alabama they have limited talent. It's likely that Coach Anderson is getting as much out of his team as possible. He'll be selling the fact that Alabama is a team the Tigers could beat on the road.

Look for Bama to be 6 point favorite.

      The real issue for Bama is the status of Hale, Coleman, and Kessens. Look for Coleman to play. He will not be 100%, but if he can repeat his last game's performance the Tide's chances of winning increase. I think Kessens and Hale are not likely to play. So what does the Tide do. They do exactly what they did against State. They need to reduce the turnovers. 20 is not quality basketball. This is also one game where Hall and Taylor might be a factor inside. The Tigers are small. When you have three key players on the bench things can go bad quickly. So far, Avery Johnson has shown he can find the answers to win regardless. I like Bama by 8.

Late breaking news: Missouri suspended two players for the Bama game.