Alabama basketball vs. Arkansas: Score prediction, scouting report for regular-season finale

Alabama basketball is aiming to score a victory over Arkansas in the final game of the regular season.

The No. 17 Crimson Tide is fresh off two consecutive losses but looks to end the regular season on a winning note. Three straight losses has only happened once this season for Alabama, and that was to Purdue, Creighton and Arizona back in December.

Arkansas could provide a solid palette cleanser. The Razorbacks aren’t as potent of a team as some years, having lost almost twice as many SEC games as they have won.

Alabama is no longer playing to win the SEC regular-season title, but the Crimson Tide can secure a double bye in the SEC Tournament with a win over Arkansas.

The Crimson Tide (20-10, 12-5 SEC) will face Arkansas (15-15, 6-11) on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPN) at Coleman Coliseum. Here’s a look at how the two teams stack up.

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Projected starting lineup for Arkansas vs. Alabama basketball

Guard El Ellis (senior): 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. Averages: 6.6 points, 2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.1 blocks, 1.5 turnovers.

Guard Khalif Battle (senior): 6-foot-4, 185 pounds. Averages: 14 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.2 blocks, 1.2 turnovers.

Forward Tramon Mark (junior): 6-foot-6, 185 pounds. Averages: 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.8 turnovers.

Forward Chandler Lawson (senior): 6-foot-8, 210 pounds. Averages: 3.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals, 0.9 blocks, 0.4 turnovers.

Center Trevon Brazile (sophomore): 6-foot-10, 220 pounds. Averages: 8.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.1 blocks, 1.6 turnovers.

Arkansas’ rotation

The Razorbacks have 11 players who have averaged 13.4 minutes per game or more this season. Some of the main players outside of the starting five who will see significant time: Davonte Davis (27.5 minutes), Makhi Mitchell (17.8) and Jeremiah Davenport (15.1).

How Arkansas 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. Neither the offense nor the defense for Arkansas are elite or in the top 100.

Arkansas 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:

Arkansas: 110.8 (101st nationally)

Alabama: 127.2 (1st)

Adjusted defensive efficiency:

Arkansas: 104.9 (141st nationally)

Alabama: 103.1 (108th)

Tempo

Arkansas: 71 (34th nationally)

Alabama: 72.9 (11th)

Score prediction

Alabama 103, Arkansas 82: There should be plenty of scoring, but the Crimson Tide gets a big win at home to close out the regular season.

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.