The Alabama men’s basketball team will play its first non-neutral road game of the year against the No. 22 Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday.
The Boilermakers, 6-1 on the season, look to challenge the Tide in its toughest game so far this season. However, head coach Anthony Grant said he thought his team had learned a lot from the season so far, losses included.
“It’s part of the process of the season,” Grant said. “Learning and trying to continue to improve.”
However, the Boilermakers may be a tough challenge for the Tide’s first time in front of a hostile crowd.
“You’re dealing with a very good team at Purdue,” Grant said. “You have to start with that. Right off the bat, it’s an extremely talented team. A lot of tradition, a lot of guys there accustomed to success. So there’s a culture and a mindset they come into every game with.”
A major factor of the game Saturday will be how Alabama can handle the pressure of playing in a hostile environment for the first time. Although the Tide has played in neutral territory before, Purdue’s historically large crowd may make for a tough first road game for Grant and company.
“[Purdue is] one of the best in college basketball in terms of the crowd and the atmosphere,” Grant said. “It’s our first true road test. There’s no substituting for experience, so we’re going get a lot of on the job training, so to speak, going into that environment.”
Purdue is led by JuJuan Johnson and E’Twaun Moore this season. These players have drawn a lot of attention from both the Alabama coaching staff and players in terms of how to defend them.
“They’re led by two outstanding guys,” Grant said. “I think you’ve got to start with them. They’ve got a great culture and a philosophy, and their guys play to their identity on both ends of the floor. So for them, Purdue, there’s a reason they’re one of the elite programs in the country.”
However, the Tide players say they feel ready for the challenge. Senior guard Chris Hines said he feels he and the team are ready for whatever challenge may come their way.
“I feel like we’re ready,” Hines said. “We won our last two, had a chance to get better. I felt like going up to Purdue will be a big test for us. I’m excited about the opportunity to go up against Purdue. It would be a good statement, especially if we win. Hopefully we can come out with a W.”
The excitement is especially felt by the freshmen. For freshman guard Trevor Releford, this first true road game for the Tide has been a long time coming.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Releford said. “I know this is a great place to play, and it’s the kind of games I want to play in. My teammates are telling me it’s real now.”
The Tide will rely heavily on Releford, who needs to have a big game for the Tide.
“I’m just going to come out and play my game, get my teammates involved, knock down open shots,” Releford said. “Coach has said he wants me to start leading. From day one, the upper classmen told me I don’t have time to be a freshman.”
As for Hines, he said he wants to be able to say he could beat Purdue once in his career at Alabama, especially after the Boilermakers beat the Tide in Tuscaloosa last year.
“I wouldn’t say it’s [payback],” Hines said. “But I wouldn’t mind returning the favor.”
