Basketball preview: Alabama vs. Chattanooga

PROJECTED STARTERS

ALABAMA (6-3)

• G Ronald Steele (6-3, Sr., Birmingham/John Carroll)
• G Senario Hillman (6-1, So., Irwinton, Ga./Wilkinson County)
• G Alonzo Gee (6-6, Sr., Riviera Beach, Fla./Dwyer)
• F Justin Knox (6-9, So., Tuscaloosa/Central)
• F JaMychal Green (6-8, Fr., Montgomery/St. Jude)

CHATTANOOGA (2-7)

• G Stephen McDowell (5-11, Sr., Indianapolis/South Carolina)
• G Keyron Sheard (6-2, Sr., Red Bank, N.J./Cecil CC)
• F Ty Patterson (6-6, Jr., Anderson, S.C./Dodge City CC)
• F Nicchaeus Doaks (6-7, Sr., Trenton, N.J./Peabody)
• F Khalil Hartwell (6-8, Sr., Philadelphia/Lutheran Christian Academy)

NOTABLE

Today's game is the fifth of eight straight at home for the Crimson Tide, which is 3-1 on its home stand. After a six-day holiday break, Alabama will host Yale on Dec. 28, Quincy on Dec. 30 and Georgia Tech on Jan. 3. ... Steele did not start last Wednesday's win over Tennessee State due to an undisclosed coach's decision, marking only the second time in 98 career games he did not start. He did enter the game three minutes in and went on to tally 13 points and seven assists. ... Gee leads the crimson Tide in scoring at 13.7 points per game, including a season-high 24 against TSU. Hillman averages 12.7 points, including 13 per game in his last five. ... Reserve center Yamene Coleman scored 14 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench against TSU. He shot 7-for-8 from the field. ... Chattanooga's 2-7 mark is somewhat misleading, as the Mocs have played the likes of Missouri, Memphis, Southern Cal and Davidson this season. UTC's only two wins have come over Tennessee Temple and Mississippi Valley State. ... McDowell, a South Carolina transfer, leads the team in scoring at 19.3 points per game. Doaks averages 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.