TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama men’s basketball will look to improve to 4-0 in the Southeastern Conference on Wednesday, as the Crimson Tide travel to face Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena. The Tide is looking to win its first four conference games for the first time since the 2020-21 season and second time since the 1986-87 season.
The Alabama-Arkansas matchup features two of the best scorers in the conference, as Arkansas’ Ricky Council IV ranks No. 3 in the SEC, averaging 18.1 points per game, while Alabama’s Brandon Miller ranks No. 1, scoring 19.1 points per contest. This is the second meeting between Alabama and Arkansas during the Nate Oats-Eric Musselman era where both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.
The Broadcast
Wednesday’s game is set for a 6 p.m. tipoff and will be aired on ESPN2 with Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) on the call.
The radio broadcast can be heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart (play-by-play) and Bryan Passink (analyst) on the call, while Tom Stipe (engineer) is turning the dials. The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.
Notes You Need To Know
- Alabama is looking to improve to 4-0 in SEC play for the first time since 2020-21 and second time since the 1967-87 season
- Alabama is ranked No. 4 in the AP Top 25 Poll for the second time this season. Prior to this season, that is the highest AP ranking since 2006-07 (Ranked No. 4)
- After recording 16.9 turnovers per game during non-conference play, the Tide is now committing just 11.7 turnovers during SEC games
- Alabama is 13-12 against AP Top 25 teams during Nate Oats‘ tenure
- Alabama has posted four wins over top-25 opponents in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history
- For the second straight week and fourth time this season, Brandon Miller has been named SEC Freshman of the Week
- Miller is averaging 19.1 points per game, the most by any freshman in the country and No. 34 overall
- Miller is the only freshman in the country to rank in the top 65 in points per game (No. 34) and rebounds per game (No. 63)
- Miller is one of 10 players in Division I, the only player in the SEC and the only freshman in the country that has scored 280 points and recorded 125 rebounds this season
- Miller and Noah Clowney are tied for No. 63 in the country at 8.5 rebounds per game, which is second best among freshman in the country
- Alabama ranks No. 1 in the country in rebounds per game (46.1) and defensive rebounds per game (32.6), while also ranking No. 13 in offensive rebounds per game (13.5) and No. 13 in rebound margin (+8.3)
About Arkansas
- The Razorbacks were picked by the league’s media as the second-favorite to win the SEC regular-season title, behind Kentucky
- The matchup features two of the best scorers in the conference as Arkansas’ Ricky Council IV ranks No. 3 in the SEC, averaging 18.1 points per game, while Alabama’s Brandon Miller ranks No. 1, scoring 19.1 points per contest
- This is the second meeting between Alabama and Arkansas during the Nate Oats-Eric Musselman era where both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll
- Arkansas and Alabama both rank in the top-25 in the country in free throws attempted per game, as the Razorbacks rank No. 23 in the nation (22.9) while Alabama is No. 9 in the country (24.9)
- Arkansas has two players that rank in the top-five in rebounds per game during SEC play in Makhi Mitchell and Jordan Walsh, each tied at No. 3 averaging 8.6 rebounds per game
- Arkansas has won 17 straight in Bud Walton Arena and is now 175-68 in SEC games in the building.
- Arkansas is now 48-51 when ranked and playing a ranked opponent, including an 18-5 mark when doing so at home. The Hogs have won six straight when ranked at home and hosting a ranked opponent, including four-straight under Coach Musselman
- Arkansas has forced 20-plus turnovers five times in 15 games this season
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