Game 3 • South Alabama Jaguars (1-1) at No. 14 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0)
November 16, 2021 • 6:30 p.m. • Coleman Coliseum • Tuscaloosa, Ala.
THE COACHES
South Alabama
Richie Riley (Eastern Kentucky, 2005)
Record at USA: 55-40 (4th year)
Overall Record: 90-68 (6th year)
Record vs. Alabama (0-0)
Alabama
Nate Oats (Maranatha Baptist, 1998)
Record at Alabama: 44-22 (3rd year)
Overall Record: 140-65 (7th year)
Record vs. South Alabama: 0-0
LAST GAME
South Alabama lost 64-58 at Wichita State. No.14 Alabama defeated South Dakota State 104-88.
NEXT GAME
South Alabama returns home to take on Mobile at 3:00 p.m. (CST) at the Mitchell Center on Saturday.
ON THE AIR
Radio: Sports Talk 99.5:
J.T. Crabtree (pxp)
Joe McNulty (color)
Web: http://sportstalk995.iheart.com/listen (audio)
TV: SEC Network +
RANKINGS (NET reflects end of 2020-21 season)
USA: #203 NET, #192 Sagarin
Alabama: #8 NET, #12 Sagarin
THE SERIES
This is the fourth meeting between the two schools. This is the first matchup since a 72-50 loss on Dec. 1, 2010, and just the fourth time in program history. The Crimson Tide leads the series 2-1 all-time, with the Jags' lone win coming in an 86-84 victory in the 1989 NCAA Tournament.
NOTES
- After a career night in the season opener, Javon Franklin set new career-highs in points (18), rebounds (12), minutes (37), field goals made (8), field goals attempted (11) and free throws attempted (5) at Wichita State on Saturday. After coming up one rebound shy of a double-double against Spring Hill, Franklin notched his first career double-double and has scored in double figures in both games this season. Franklin leads the team in scoring (15.0) and rebounds (10.5).
- South Alabama held AAC Preseason Player of the Year Tyson Etienne to four points on 1-of-10 shooting in Saturday's loss to Wichita State. USA held Wichita State to 37 percent shooting (22-59). The Jags have forced both opponents this season to shoot below 40 percent from the field.
- South ranks in the top-25 nationally in scoring defense (52.5), blocked shots per game (7.0) and field goal percentage defense (31.4 percent) through the first two games of the season.
- USA has four players averaging double digits in scoring this season.
- Since the 2018-19 season, South Alabama is 0-4 vs. SEC opponents, including a 70-69 loss to Auburn on Nov. 12, 2019.
- Dating back to 2000, South Alabama is 5-29 vs. SEC opponents. South's last victory against an SEC opponent was a 79-75 win in overtime vs. LSU on Nov. 23, 2011.
- USA's last win vs. a ranked SEC team was a 67-66 win over at #18 Florida on Dec. 22, 2009.
- SEC familiarity; Jay Jay Chandler, Javon Franklin, Tyrell Jones and Charles Manning Jr. all transferred from SEC programs and have experience playing against the Crimson Tide. Chandler has enjoyed the most success of the group against the Crimson Tide, winning four games during his time at Texas A&M.
- USA brought in 10 newcomers for the upcoming season. Eight are transfers, including four from SEC programs and two freshmen. Eleven states are represented on the roster, including two international countries (Brazil and Australia). Georgia and Tennessee have the most players represented with two each. The roster consists of two freshmen, one sophomore, four juniors, two seniors and four graduate seniors.
- The Jaguars are among the lowest percentage of minutes returning in the country for the 2021-22 season. USA is bringing back just 28.6 percent of minutes played from last season, which ranks as the eighth fewest in the NCAA. Only UT-Martin, Creighton, Missouri, Duquesne, Iowa State, Robert Morris and Boston College return fewer. Newcomers accounted for 83.1 percent of the scoring in South Alabama's first two games.
- USA held Spring Hill to 0-for-15 shooting from three in the opening contest. The Badgers were the first opponent to not make a three-pointer against the Jags since Louisiana went 0-for-6 on Jan. 3, 2002. The 15 attempted three-pointers without a make is the most for a South Alabama opponent dating back to 1990.
- Several Jags had career nights in the season opener. Jay Jay Chandler tied a career-high with 21 points on 6-for-13 shooting. Diante Smith set a career-high in points (16), three-pointers made (3), three-pointers attempted (8), rebounds (7) and steals (3). Tyrell Jones added a career-high four assists. Freshman Alex Anderson scored 11 points and added seven rebounds in his first career game.
- South was picked to finish fifth in the Sun Belt preseason poll. The Jags finished last year 17-11 and fifth in the conference with a 10-7 record. USA has won 17 or more games in three straight seasons.
- Kayo Goncalves hit 81 three-pointers last year, ranking second in the Sun Belt behind former teammate Michael Flowers. The 81 three-pointers also ranked ninth nationally. Goncalves is 5-for-11 from beyond the arc to start the season and ranks fifth in the Sun Belt with five threes through two games.
- Greg Parham averaged 18.4 points per game at VMI and was named first team all-SoCon by the media. Parham scored 20 or more points on 12 occasions, and scored in double-digits in 22 of 25 contests. He scored over 1,000 points as a Keydet.
- Jamal West pounded the offensive glass last season, pulling down 70 rebounds on the scoring end, most on the team by almost double. Nearly 42 percent of West's rebounds gave the Jaguars a shot at second-chance points. West led the team in rebounding as a freshman and finished 10th in the Sun Belt with 6.3 boards per game. West led the team with five offensive rebounds in the season opener.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSouth_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics. Contributions to the South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give
—USA—
