Basketball preview: Alabama at Clemson
By Creg Stephenson, Senior Writer
Posted Jan 6, 2009
Copyright © 2010 CrimsonConfidential.com
• WHEN: 8 p.m.
• WHERE: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, S.C.
• TV/RADIO: FSN/CTSN
• RECORDS: Alabama is 10-3, Clemson is 14-0
• RANKINGS: Clemson is No. 12 in AP poll, No. 11 in coaches poll; Alabama is unranked
• SERIES RECORD: Clemson leads 4-3
PROJECTED STARTERS
ALABAMA (9-3)
• G Ronald Steele (6-3, Sr., Birmingham/John Carroll)
• G Senario Hillman (6-1, So., Irwinton, Ga./Wilkinson County)
• G Alonzo Gee (6-6, Sr., Riviera Beach, Fla./Dwyer)
• F Justin Knox (6-9, So., Tuscaloosa/Central)
• F JaMychal Green (6-8, Fr., Montgomery/St. Jude)
CLEMSON (14-0)
• G Demontez Stitt (6-2, So., Mathews, N.C./Butler)
• G Terrence Oglesby (6-2, So., Cleveland, Tenn./Bradley Central)
• G K.C. Rivers (6-5, Sr., Charlotte, N.C./Oak Hill Academy)
• F Trevor Booker (6-7, Jr., Whitmire, S.C./Union)
• F Raymond Sykes (6-9, Sr., Jacksonville, Fla./Andrew Jackson)
NOTABLE
Alabama recently completed an eight-game homestand, in which it went 7-1. The Crimson Tide has won five straight, including an 88-77 victory over Georgia Tech on Saturday. ... Gee leads Alabama is both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.7 points and 7.3 boards per game. Hillman and Steele each average 13.7 points per game. ... Clemson beat Alabama 87-61 last season at Coleman Coliseum. Booker led the way with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Gee had 17 points and six boards for Alabama. ... Clemson is one of four remaining Division I unbeatens, joining Wake Forest, Pittsburgh and Illinois State. The Tigers have already opened Atlantic Coast Conference play, having won 91-72 at Miami on Dec. 21. ... Rivers leads the Tigers in scoring at 15.3 points per game. Booker averages 14.6 points and a team-best 9.6 rebounds per game. ... Alabama opens conference play on Jan. 11, at home against LSU. That game will be televised at 12:30 p.m. on Raycom Sports.
