Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball team will hit the court on Friday afternoon to take on the Hofstra Pride in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Tampa.
Even with Hofstra as the opponent, Alabama’s toughest test on Friday could come from within. It’s been a turbulent week for Coach Oats and the Crimson Tide, as the team has had to navigate the distraction of star guard Aden Holloway’s arrest on Monday for marijuana possession.
As the four seed, Alabama is considered a heavy favorite over the 13-seeded Pride, but given the distractions of the week, a close contest would not be all that surprising.
With so much on the line, let’s take a look at three bold predictions for Alabama vs. Hofstra!
Labaron Philon Goes For 20+ Points & 5+ Assists
With its second leading scorer out, Alabama will need superstar guard Labaron Philon to show up in a big way if the Crimson Tide wants to make a deep run in the tournament.
Philon has seemed to be at his best when Alabama has needed it this season, and I fully expect him to answer the call on Friday afternoon as both a scorer and a distributor.
Philon is averaging 21 points and 4 assists a game this season, so this isn’t extremely bold, but defensive intensity generally cranks up in March Madness, so reaching his season average may be tougher than usual.
Amari Allen Gets Back On Track
Alabama forward Amari Allen has put together a solid true freshman season, but seemingly hit the infamous “freshman wall” during the middle portion of February.
The 6-foot-8 wing has hit just one of his last 13 three-point attempts after going six of eight against Mississippi State on February 25.
Allen is due to break out of his mini-slump, and the NCAA Tournament is a good place to get back on track and help the Crimson Tide advance.
Jalil Bethea Steps Up for the Crimson Tide
With Aden Holloway out, Alabama will need another guard to step up in his absence. The most likely candidates to log the most minutes are Latrell Wrightsell and Houston Mallette, but Miami transfer Jalil Bethea will likely have to handle some of the workload as well.
Bethea was one of the most coveted portal targets this past offseason, but has not lived up to the expectations. Injuries and inconsistent play have plagued the former five-star.
Now, perhaps more than any other time this season, Alabama will need Bethea to be a consistent presence on the court, and this could just be the opportunity he needs to get over the hump.
How to Watch Alabama vs. Hofstra in NCAA Tournament
Below are all the details on how to watch No. 4 Alabama vs. No 13. Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA Tournament:
When: Friday, March 20, 2:15 p.m. CT
Where: Benchmark International Arena, Tampa Bay, Florida
TV: TruTV
3 Bold Predictions For Alabama’s First Round Matchup vs. Hofstra