Alabama, Auburn set pre-game availability reports for colossal matchup

Alabama and Auburn are set for a matchup of epic proportions on Saturday on the hardwood in a never-before-seen matchup for SEC basketball.

Auburn and Alabama will meet in Tuscaloosa for the first-ever meeting of an AP No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the history of the conference. It’s just the first 1 vs. 2 matchup in college basketball overall since 2008, and it should be must-see TV.

Friday night, the two programs set their availability reports, and there are not too many surprises on either side.

Auburn listed Chad Baker-Mazara as probable after being dinged up against Florida and not starting in the midweek game vs. Vanderbilt. However, Baker-Mazara still played 28 minutes off the bench.

For Alabama, Derrion Reid is listed as questionable. The freshman has not played since Feb. 1 vs. Georgia.

Those 2 players have both been contributors for their respective programs this season. Baker-Mazara is the 2nd-leading scorer for the Tigers this season with 12.2 points and appearing in all 24 games and leads his team with 1.3 steals per game. Reid has been limited to 17 games but is averaging 7.2 and 3.4 rebounds for Nate Oats.

Alabama heads toward tip-off as a slim 2-point home favorite per bet365. Fans can take advantage of those odds and track the latest figures with a college sports betting app throughout basketball season.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.