Alabama @ Kentucky preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2019 ) Alabama 55, Kentucky 73

No. 13 Kentucky goes after its fourth straight victory overall and looks to avenge last season’s regular-season loss to Alabama when the Wildcats host the improving Crimson Tide for an SEC battle Saturday afternoon. Kentucky, which leads the all-time series 113-38 but fell 77-75 at Coleman Coliseum last January, rallied in the second half for a 78-69 victory at Georgia on Tuesday and will go after its 1,000th SEC regular-season win Saturday.

The Crimson Tide leads the league in scoring (84.4) while sitting among the national leaders in made 3-pointers per contest (11.1), and the Wildcats may feel very comfortable in the up-tempo game that is expected Saturday. “I think for our younger guys, they really like to get out and fly and that’s what they’re used to,” Kentucky senior forward Nate Sestina told reporters. “They played fast in high school and AAU, so it’s kind of a game like that where they can get out and run and put the ball on the floor and try to get fast-break points, whether it’s a layup or a transition 3. Then, we just have to do a good job of getting back (on defense).” Alabama rebounded from a heartbreaking double-overtime setback at Florida where they blew a 21-point lead by rolling past Mississippi State 90-69 on Wednesday for its program-record fifth straight game with at least 90 points. “It’s a big game for us coming off the Florida loss,” Crimson Tide junior guard Galin Smith told reporters. “We put a lot of emphasis on rebounding and ending the game like we should have at Florida.”

TIME: Noon ET. TV: ESPN

ABOUT ALABAMA (8-6, 1-1 SEC): Junior guard John Petty Jr., who tops the team in scoring (16.7) and rebounds (7.3) while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor overall, leads five players who have drained at least 20 shots from 3-point range with 50. “(Petty) is capable of making tough shots,” first-year coach Nate Oats told reporters. “What might be a really bad shot for a lot of other guys, isn’t really that bad for him.” Sophomore guard Kira Lewis Jr. adds 16.6 points per game - scoring exactly 17 in three straight - leads the Crimson Tide in assists (4.6) as well as steals (1.9) and is one of three of the top four scorers shooting at least 80 percent from the free-throw line.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (11-3, 2-0): Freshman guard Tyrese Maxey poured in 17 points against Georgia and leads a balanced offense with 14 per game, while sophomore guard Immanuel Quickley had 15 off the bench and is averaging 18.7 over the last three contests. Sophomore Ashton Hagans (12.9 points, SEC-best 7.1 assists) scored 13 on Tuesday despite battling an ankle injury and coach John Calipari told reporters of his point guard: “He is a tough hombre. The guy is physically tough and strong and he uses it.” Sophomore forward Nick Richards adds 13 points per game to go along with team highs of 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 69.2 percent from the field.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Crimson Tide junior F Herbert Jones is averaging 12.5 points on 57.6 percent shooting from the floor the last four contests.

2. Kentucky sophomore F EJ Montgomery averaged 11.8 points in his first five games this season, but totaled 21 in his last six.

3. Alabama freshman G Jaden Shackelford averages 12.8 points but shoots just 37.2 percent from the field.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 86, Alabama 80