The tipoff time and broadcast details are set for Tennessee basketball’s rivalry matchup against Alabama on Saturday evening. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET and ESPN will broadcast the critical SEC matchup. ESPN originally flexed the matchup with it having the chance to be at either 6 or 6:30 p.m. ET with either ESPN or ESPN2 broadcasting the game.
The Vols are currently 20-7 (10-4 SEC) after winning their last four games and eight of their last 10 games. Tennessee is back in the AP Poll for the first time in three weeks, coming in at No. 22 following its road win at then-No. 19 Vanderbilt.
Alabama has won six straight games and currently boasts a 20-7 (10-4 SEC) record. The Crimson Tide are up to No. 17 in this week’s AP Poll.
Saturday’s matchup is the second of two meetings between the teams this season. Tennessee sparked its strong stretch of play with a 79-73 win over the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa last month. It was Nate Ament’s breakout game, scoring a game-high 29 points in the win.
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Alabama will look a bit different this time around. The Crimson Tide were down starters Aden Holloway and Amari Allen both missed the game due to injury. However, center Charles Bediako was eligible for Alabama during the first matchup and will not be this time around.
The game has serious SEC Tournament seeding ramifications. Both teams enter the week tied for second in the SEC and two games back of Florida. If Tennessee takes down Alabama, they will hold the tiebreaker and have a great chance to earn a top four seed and a double bye in the SEC Tournament.
Both teams go on the road in the midweek though Alabama has an easier matchup, taking a short trip to Mississippi State. Tennessee heads west to face a Missouri team desperate for quality wins to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume.
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