On Friday night, Alabama Crimson Tide basketball will face off against the Ball State Cardinals in the Tide’s third game of the season. Both teams are 1-1, and are both coming off losses.

On Friday night, Alabama Crimson Tide basketball will face off against the Ball State Cardinals at Coleman Coliseum in the Tide’s third game of the season. Both teams are 1-1, and are both coming off losses.

After an opening win against the Saint Louis Billikens, Ball State lost at home to the Indiana State Sycamores. Likewise, after an opening-day win against Coastal Carolina, Alabama fell at home in a close game to the Dayton Flyers.

This game will be an important test for Alabama. The Crimson Tide should be favored to win this game (as well as the next few), and the team needs to record as many early wins as possible before the non-conference schedule gets significantly more difficult. Winning the “easy” games is a good sign of a talented team, and can provide an important safety cushion for more difficult contests.

Alabama’s offense and rebounding will be important to keep an eye on during Friday night’s contest. The rebounding has looked good so far, but the team has struggled to shoot. This struggle has been especially evident from beyond the arc, and the Crimson Tide will look to improve their numbers from there as the season continues.

The development of Corban Collins will also be important. The veteran guard emerged as a key scorer in the loss to Dayton, and if his high production levels continue he can add a lot to this team. Alabama is fairly young in several positions, and his experience is vital to the on-court product.

Friday night’s matchup doesn’t feature the flashiest teams on Alabama Crimson Tide basketball’s schedule, but games like these are important for teams that hope to make the tournament. Avery Johnson will be looking to add another home win, and the team as a whole will look to improve on both sides of the ball before the schedule gets more difficult