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Commodores and Crimson Tide Clash in SEC Opener 1/4/2005
Commodores and Crimson Tide Clash in SEC Opener Game Notes The Southeastern Conference’s two most successful teams in last year’s NCAA Tournament meet to open league play as No. 19 Alabama visits Vanderbilt, Wednesday, Jan. 5, at Memorial Gymnasium. The game tips at 9:08 CT and will be televised by ESPN2. Vanderbilt went 23-10 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 for the first time since 1993 last season before losing to eventual national champion Connecticut in the Phoenix regional semifinal. Alabama survived to the Elite 8 of the same regional before bowing out to the Huskies for a 20-13 overall mark. Both teams begin conference play with much confidence. The Commodores (9-4) have won five in a row and are undefeated at home this season at 9-0. Vanderbilt leads the SEC with 10 3-pointers a game. Mario Moore leads all Commodores, averaging 14.1 points a game. Moore is shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc (31-of-62) this season. Corey Smith has played strong off the bench for VU and leads all Commodores with 14.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in the last five games. Alabama enters the Vanderbilt game among the league’s top teams statistically. The Crimson Tide have players in the SEC’s top five in scoring (two players),rebounding, field goal percentage, three-pointers made and blocked shots. Three players average more than 16 points a game, including Earnest Shelton (17.3), Kennedy Winston (17.0) and Chuck Davis (16.1). Jermareo Davidson (8.1) and Chuck Davis (7.6) are Alabama’s top rebounders. Vanderbilt has won five of the last eight games in the series, including last year’s 70-67 contest in Tuscaloosa. The Commodores have claimed the last seven meetings at Memorial Gymnasium. Alabama owns a 62-59 edge in the series overall. |
