For the first time this season, the Alabama Crimson Tide will face an opponent they have already played once before this year, with a rematch against the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Wednesday night.
Alabama had beaten it before in Starkville on Jan. 13, 1997-82, but the Crimson Tide got off to a bit of a slow start in that game, which came immediately after back-to-back SEC losses to Vanderbilt and Texas State.
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However, Alabama used a strong second half to earn the win, the Crimson Tide’s ninth straight victory over Mississippi State dating back to the 2021-22 season. As for the upcoming rematch, can Alabama now make it to its tenth straight win Wednesday night?
Here are three keys for the Crimson Tide to win Wednesday night’s rematch against the Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa.
1. Limit guard Josh Hubbard’s production
As one of the most talented shooting guards in college basketball, there are few players in the SEC more capable of taking over games offensively than Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard. Hubbard, who is averaging 22 points per game this season, led the Bulldogs with 23 points on 6-of-16 shooting in the last game, which could go a long way toward a potential win for the Crimson Tide if Alabama can limit the guard’s offensive abilities on Wednesday night.
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2. Control the rhythm when attacking
January 13, 2026; Starkville, MS, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Labaron Philon Jr. (0) reacts during the second half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Humphrey Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Few teams in college basketball can match Alabama’s scoring offense, with the Crimson Tide currently leading the nation with 92.6 points per game while Mississippi State is averaging just 78.3 points per game. Simply put, if the tempo plays in Alabama’s favor, it will likely result in a Crimson Tide win, as a faster game will result in the Bulldogs not being able to keep offense on the scoreboard.
3. Avoid slow starts
In the end, while Alabama did pull away in the second half and win the first meeting between the two, there was no denying that the Crimson Tide struggled early due to a slow start and ended up only leading by 2 points at halftime. The Crimson Tide will need to get off to a fast start in the bubble, and if that happens, Wednesday night’s game could look similar to what it has been in Tuscaloosa the past two years.
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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Keys to Alabama basketball win over Mississippi State Bulldogs