Wednesday night in CBB will see the LSU Tigers travel to the Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game is scheduled for a 9:00 pm tipoff and will be televised live on ESPN3. Currently Alabama is favored by 11.5 points with the total being set at 117.5 for this game. The schools featured earlier in the week in the FBS National Championship Game will take their battle to the hardwood as the LSU Tigers head to Coleman Coliseum for a Southeastern Conference battle with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Free Analysis: Monday’s BCS national championship game between Louisiana State and Alabama was a defensive struggle. Things probably won’t be much different when the SEC rivals meet on the hardwood Wednesday in Tuscaloosa. After a rough stretch, LSU is back on the upswing. The Tigers, who have won eight of their last nine, can surpass their win total from each of the last two seasons with a win tonight.LSU mus have been watching their football counterparts when it comes to defense, especially of late where they have allowed not on single team to hit 60 points in their last 9 games, while in their first 6 games they allowed 69.8 ppg. The Tigers are 36th in scoring defense (59.8 ppg), 25th in FG% defense (38.50 and 53rd in 3 point defense (30.5%). LSU star guard Andre Stringer posted his first double-figure game against Ole Miss since returning from a scary fainting spell that kept him sidelined for five games.Freshman guard Anthony Hickey is doing an admirable job running the show. The rookie point guard is tied for sixth in the SEC in assists (4.1 apg) and leads the conference in steals (2.5 spg). The biggest difference maker for the tigers this year has been 7-foot Iowa State transfer Justin Hamilton (13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds), who set career highs of 23 points and 16 rebounds to help LSU open SEC play with an 81-55 rout of Mississippi on Saturday. The win over Ole Miss was the Tigers’ largest margin of victory in a conference opener since 1953, but they haven't won consecutive conference games since 2008-09. The Crimson Tide may still be sky high as they enter this game, thanks to their football team winning the Title and they come in having won four straight by an average of 18.5 points since a stretch of three losses in four games.  Alabama's defense is even more impressive than the visitor's, as it is 10th best in the nation with an allowed average of 55.9 ppg. Alabama's opponents are connecting on just 36.7 percent of their field goal attempts, the sixth lowest rate in the country. Forward Tony Mitchell leads Alabama with 15.2 ppg and 7.2 rpg and he has been consistent all season, scoring in double-figures in 15-of-16 games so far. Trevor Releford has led the Crimson Tide in scoring in three of the last four games, averaging 16.5 ppg on 26-of-37 shooting from the field with 13 assists and 12 steals during the span. JaMychal Green only had eight points with his 10 rebounds last game, but the senior forward has proven to be an impact player this season. Green has had three 20-point performances in his last seven games and is second on the team in scoring and rebounding. The Tide does have some mixed offensive numbers as they are 194th in scoring (67.6 ppg) and 61st in shooting (46.9), but they are 333rd out of 345 teams in 3pt shooting (27.9%). This will be the 167th meeting between the programs. Alabama holds a 100-66 advantage after sweeping the Tigers in the past two seasons. LSU's last victory in Coleman Coliseum was on January 31, 2004. 

Free Pick: Emotion plays a big role in sports, especially college sports, where wins an losses deal with school pride rather than dollars and cents (Reason why I like college sports better than the pros). Emotion can have a good or bad effect on a team and tonight I feel it will work against the Tide and for the Tigers. Monday night the LSU Tigers were really humiliated in the BCS Title game by the Tide so you can expect their hoops team to come out and give it their all as they look for revenge. For the Tide emotion will not be so good as i'm sure this team has been partying right along with their football and may not be focused for this one. OK Emotion or not this is still a tough LSU team with a defense that is more than capable of keeping this one close. Alabama's offense is average and they have won their last 4 by 18.5 ppg, but when faced with a tough defense like this one and their inability to hit the three or put up a ton of points will not allow allow them to pull away. The point guard matchup puts two very quick and talented underclassmen head to head. With Hamilton and Mitchell battling inside, this should be a very physical competition. Just like when the schools met earlier this week, nothing will come easy for either offense and LSU's defense will allow them to keep it close here. 

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