Sports

Alabama’s rolling and will give Kentucky all it can handle

We should have known Alabama could do this when it nearly won a game in Brooklyn with only three players. Today’s lesson — as much a reminder to myself — is that just beca𓄧use you hesitate, it’s not too late.

Alabama (+4½) over Kentucky: I planned on taking the Crimson Tide against Aub🌼urn, then opted to sit out. Now, I’m hopping on while there’s still time. Alabama should now have an NCAA Tournament berth officially locked up and🤡 has Collin Sexton looking like he’s in the midst of a John Gilchrist/Kemba Walker-like unstoppable run. Alabama lost the lone meeting 81-71 at Kentucky, but momentum never matters more than in conference tournaments. Ride the hottest hands.

Rhode Island (-7½) over St. Joseph’s: The end of the Rams’ invincibility in the Atlantic 10 is the best thing that ಌcould have happened to them before the postseason. After opening league play 15-1 and claiming its first outright league title in school history, Rhode Island was slaughtered by St. Joseph’s 78-48 at home on Feb. 27. A loss at Davidson came next. The Rams are ♈battle-tested in the postseason — winning last year’s conference tournament and nearly reaching the Sweet 16 — and the recent beatdown ensures they won’t sleepwalk through another meeting with the Hawks.

Yale (+7) over Penn: Playing in the Palestra helps the co-Ivy League champions, but it wasn’t enough to get thꦏe Quakers past the semifinals in the inaugural Ivy League Tournament last season. Though Penn is more consistent and balanced, Yale matches up well and won last weekend’s matchup 80-79 despite hitting just 4-of-17 3-pointers. The Bulldogs have won four straight and seven of their past eight games and should have a chance to stun the Quakers once more.

This season: 10-9-1
2011-17 record: 199-155-8
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