Razorbacks basketball report

Sexton still with Tide after report

Alabama guard Collin Sexton (2) celebrates by giving high fives to fans after an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Alabama starting point guard Collin Sexton is expected to play against the Arkansas Razorbacks today after he was among several players listed in a Yahoo Sports story Friday connected to potential NCAA rules violations.

Sexton's name was mentioned as part of the FBI's ongoing investigation into college basketball bribery that first became public in October.

ADVERTISEMENT

More headlines

Alabama Coach Avery Johnson told reporters in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Friday that he anticipates Sexton will continue to play.

"Just no further comment," Johnson said, according to AL.com. "When we feel we need to comment -- whenever they finish that process -- we will.

"But at this time, the plan is let's get ready for this game [today]."

Sexton, a 6-3 freshman, is averaging a team-high 18.4 points per game for the Crimson Tide.

The Tuscaloosa News reported it wasn't immediately clear if Sexton being named in the Yahoo Sports story as a player who or whose family had a meal with agent Christian Dawkins represented new information in addition to what caused Alabama to suspend Sexton for the season-opener against Memphis on Nov. 10.

High on Tide

One of Alabama's more impressive victories this season was beating Florida 68-50 on the road Feb. 3.

"Alabama's really, really good," Gators Coach Mike White said. "Terrific. They've got great team speed, quickness, length, athleticism. They've got good depth. They've got interchangeable parts defensively.

"Offensively, they're led by guards that really create. ... Donta Hall shoots about 1,000 percent. Just finished everything."

Hall, a 6-9 junior, is shooting 75.1 percent (130 of 173) from the field. He was perfect against the Gators, going 7 of 7 from the field.

Getting defensive

In SEC games Alabama leads the conference in scoring defense, holding opponents to an average of 67.3 points per game. The Tide are tied with Georgia for first in field goal defense (39.4 percent) and is second in three-point defense at 30.2 percent behind Kentucky's 26.9.

"Alabama may be the best defensive team in our league," Mississippi State Coach Ben Howland said. "They have a lot of NBA principles that they use in their defense."

That's not surprising because Alabama Coach Avery Johnson was a long-time NBA player and coach.

The Tide beat Mississippi State 68-62 at home and lost to the Bulldogs 67-63 on the road.

"Their length is so hard to score over," Howland said. "They have very good guard play in terms of their size. When you look at [Dazon] Ingram and [Collin] Sexton and [John] Petty, they're all long, they're all athletic. They're able to stay in front of the ball. I think they're a really tough matchup when it comes to trying to score on that team."

Stuff city

Arkansas has 99 dunks on the season, including 55 by 6-11 freshman Daniel Gafford. Sophomore forward Adrio Bailey is second on the team with 18 dunks.

Alabama has an SEC bigh 135 dunks, led by Donta Hall's 63. Daniel Giddens is second for the Tide with 18.

The Razorbacks rank fifth in the SEC in dunks behind Alabama, Mississippi State (111), Texas A&M (103) and Kentucky (100).

Home sweet home

Arkansas is playing at Alabama, which means the Razorbacks better guard Tide freshman John Petty closely.

Petty is shooting 51.1 percent (32 of 61) from the field in SEC home games, but 16.7 percent (10 of 60) on the road. He's averaging 14.4 points at home and 4.4 on the road.

Sports on 02/24/2018