A look at the first weekend of February around the Southeastern Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEKEND
No. 10 Alabama (15-4, 10-0) at No. 18 Missouri (12-3, 5-3). Saturday’s matinee matches the SEC’s top two teams and two of its four ranked squads. The Crimson Tide bounced back big from having its 10-game winning streak snapped by No. 24 Oklahoma State in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, routing
LOOKING AHEAD
Alabama’s journey to the SEC regular-ason championship will unfold on the road much of this month. Saturday’s game at Mizzou is the first of five away from home among the next seven in February before the Tide closes the season against Auburn on March 2.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Scotty Pippen Jr., G, Vanderbilt. The son of Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen has scored 55 points the past two games, including a career-high 32 against Florida on Jan. 27. This modest stretch is somewhat reminiscent of the sophomore’s hot start to the season, during which he scored at least 24 points in five of the Commodores’ first six games. Four consecutive 18-point efforts followed for Pippen, who's
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Florida forward Colin Castleton blocked seven shots in No. 22 Gators’
ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE
Two of the sport’s powerhouses clash again Monday night when No. 2 South Carolina visits No. 3 UConn. The Gamecocks finally beat the Huskies 70-52 last February for their first series win in nine tries and could return to Storrs, Connecticut, as the No. 1 team again when the rankings are released earlier in the day. ... No. 18 Tennessee had showdowns at No. 24 Mississippi State on Thursday night and against second-place and No. 7 Texas A&M on Sunday postponed because of a combination of a positive test, contact tracing and quarantining within the Lady Vols’ program.
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