Got a fun one on tap today, as the Crimson Tide tip-off the SEC-Big 12 Challenge with a ranked show-down with the Sooners. As both teams are pretty much locks for the NCAA Tournament, we are getting a nice little preview of what March could look like for Alabama, as the Tide will obviously be playing some of the best the nation has to offer in the Big Dance.
However, some massive news broke about an hour ago regarding the Sooners:
Due to COVID-19 protocol, Austin Reaves and Alondes Williams will not be available for today’s game against Alabama.
— Oklahoma Basketball (@OU_MBBall) January 30, 2021
Those are both starters, and Reaves is by far the most important player on the team. The line shifted from Oklahoma being slightly favored to Alabama -3.
Herbert Jones, dealing with multiple injuries himself, is considered a game-time decision, as well. So, we may not be getting the absolute best out of either team today, but it should still be a big test for the Tide, and it won’t look any worse on the ole resume.
As I mentioned, this game, along with the Texas A&M - Kansas State matchup, will tip-off the eighth installment of the annual SEC-Big 12 Challenge. The Big 12 currently leads the all-time rivalry 4-1-2, with the lone SEC victory coming in 2018. Which is coincidentally the last time Alabama and Oklahoma got together. Here’s the rest of today’s schedule:
Got a huge game today, folks. Let’s lead the SEC to a win and capture a Q1 road win while we are at it!
Roll Tide