Alabama basketball vs Charleston prediction: Who has edge in 2024 NCAA Tournament?
Alabama basketball will look to score a victory over Charleston in the first round of March Madness.
The NCAA Tournament bracket 2024 has put the Crimson Tide against the Cougars in Spokane, Washington, as part of the West region. The two teams will play Friday.
Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats has led Alabama to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season with five total in Tuscaloosa. The farthest he has reached with his team is the Sweet 16, both a season ago and in 2020-21.
Alabama hasn't been playing its best basketball of late, having lost three of the last four games. It will look to get back on track in the NCAA Tournament, facing the Cougars in the Round of 64.
Meanwhile, Charleston enters the NCAA Tournament on a hot streak. The Cougars have won 12 consecutive games.
Can Alabama reverse its trend and halt Charleston's run? Here's a scouting report of Alabama vs Charleston, how the two teams stack up, as well as a prediction for the NCAA Tournament game.
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Projected starting lineup for Charleston vs Alabama basketball
Guard Kobe Rodgers (junior): 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. Averages: 9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, 1.5 turnovers.
Guard Reyne Smith (junior): 6-foot-2, 190 pounds. Averages: 12.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 0.7 turnovers.
Forward Ben Burnham (junior): 6-foot-7, 220 pounds. Averages: 11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.4 blocks, 1 turnover.
Forward Frankie Policelli (senior): 6-foot-9, 225 pounds. Averages: 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.3 blocks, 0.7 turnovers.
Center Ante Brzovic (junior): 6-foot-10, 225 pounds. Averages: 12.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 0.4 seals, 0.4 blocks, 1.7 turnovers.
Charleston's rotation vs Alabama basketball
The Cougars have 10 players who have averaged 10.5 minutes or more this season; outside of the starters, CJ Fulton (24.1 minutes per game), Bryce Butler (21 minutes), James Scott (16 minutes), Jordan Crawford (12 minutes) and Khalil London (10.5 minutes) see the most time.
How Charleston stacks up with Alabama in scoring, defense and tempo
KenPom tracks adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, which are points scored and allowed per 100 possessions. Charleston has a solid offense, which is much better than its defense.
The Cougars will look to play fast, but not quite as fast as Alabama. KenPom measures the adjusted tempo statistic based on the number of possessions per 40 minutes.
Adjusted offensive efficiency:
Charleston: 113.7 (58th nationally)
Alabama: 125.6 (2nd)
Adjusted defensive efficiency:
Charleston: 106.1 (176th nationally)
Alabama: 103.1 (112th)
Tempo
Charleston: 69.8 (59th nationally)
Alabama: 72.6 (9th)
Alabama vs Charleston prediction: March Madness Round of 64
Alabama 90, Charleston 75: So long as the Crimson Tide offense isn't cold from the field, Alabama will win this game. The Cougars' defense will struggle with the Crimson Tide's potent offense. And improved offense should improve the Alabama defense. But if the Crimson Tide doesn't get back on track offensively, Charleston could provide some problems.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball vs Charleston prediction, pick for March Madness
