Georgia @ Alabama preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 6, 2018 ) Alabama 46, Georgia 65

Alabama has struggled to find consistency in SEC play, alternating wins and losses in its past seven conference games, and looks to rebound from a difficult loss to its in-state rival when it hosts Georgia on Wednesday. The Crimson Tide spent Saturday night chasing Auburn in an 84-63 road defeat, seeing runs of 21-2 and 17-0 in the first half putting Alabama in a 20-point hole at halftime en route to falling back to .500 in league play.

“They had more energy, they outhustled us,” Alabama coach Avery Johnson told reporters afterward. “We didn’t have our best game. We got off to a decent start, but they got us with their transition offense (and) obviously their 3-point shooting.” Georgia has been consistent in SEC play, but not in a good way as the Bulldogs have lost seven of their first eight conference games under first-year coach Tom Crean. While the offense showed signs of promise in Saturday’s 86-80 home loss to South Carolina, the Bulldogs were torched defensively by 57 percent shooting from the field and 69 percent shooting from 3-point range. “Today, we did not guard the basketball, and we did not guard the shooter,” Crean told the media afterward. “After a while, the basket looked like Lake Michigan because it was so open.”

TV: 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT GEORGIA (10-11, 1-7 SEC): Senior forward Derek Ogbeide is averaging 14.6 points in his past three SEC games and has raised his average for the season to 10 points per game, giving Georgia three frontcourt players averaging in double figures. Sophomore forwards Rayshaun Hammonds (12.9 points) and Nicolas Claxton (12.7) combine for 25.6 points and 16 rebounds per game with Claxton leading the SEC in rebounding at 9.3. The Bulldogs average 16.6 turnovers per game, last in the league and 341st nationally.

ABOUT ALABAMA (13-8, 4-4): Sophomore guard John Perry scored a team-best 18 points Saturday, and in his past four SEC games is averaging 19 points per game (seven above his season average). Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads the Crimson Tide in scoring at 13.6 points per game. Senior forward Donta Hall is third in the SEC in rebounding at 8.9 per contest and eighth in blocked shots at two per game while averaging 11.5 points per game.

TIP-INS

1. Georgia has won five of its past six matchups with the Crimson Tide, including the past two at Alabama.

2. The Bulldogs lead the SEC and are 13th in the nation in rebounds per game (40.9), while Alabama is third in the league and 44th nationally (38.57).

3. Petty is shooting 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range in conference play.

PREDICTION: Alabama 68, Georgia 63