Tide ready for 'chess match' with MSU

It didn't take Mississippi State very long to catch the attention of coaches around the SEC.

That's what Mississippi State 70, Arkansas 56 in a packed Bud Walton Arena will do for a team.

Alabama coach Mark Gottfried certainly was paying attention to the outcome in Tuscaloosa. His team, which opened SEC play with a six-point home win against LSU on Sunday, travels to play the suddenly hot Bulldogs on Wednesday.

The winner will emerge as the only unbeaten team and with the early lead in the West.

On Monday, Gottfried reiterated his respect for Mississippi State, saying its win at Arkansas is proof that the SEC is stronger than experts might be willing to admit. Before the home loss to the Bulldogs, Arkansas had two of the league's marquee wins in the pre-conference schedule, with upsets of Big 12 powers Oklahoma and Texas in a one-week span.

"Regardless of what people think about our league being down, that game dispels that," Gottfried said of MSU's win. "Arkansas is very good. It proved it with the wins it has had. Mississippi State proved that they are awfully good. There are a lot of young players in the league, and as the year goes on all of the teams will improve. It just shows how good the SEC is again."

Mississippi State (11-5, 1-0 SEC) brings a three-game winning streak into the game with the Tide (11-4, 1-0), who have won 10 of 12.

Wednesday's matchup (7 p.m.) in Humphrey Coliseum features two teams with contrasting styles. In the past, Mississippi State has been an inside, power-type team but coach Rick Stansbury is now using a four-guard offense bolstered by Jarvis Varnardo in the paint. Alabama features one of the strongest front courts in the league with freshman JaMychael Green, sophomore Justin Knox and juniors Yamene Coleman and Michael Jemison, all of whom are 6-foot-7 or taller.

"I've got one guy in my starting lineup that is over 200 pounds," he said. "They have four guys who are 230 or 240. They are all big, thick kids and that's a concern for me."

Gottfried said the game will be a "chess match."

"The way they are playing with four guards, it's a tough matchup," he said. "We have to try to figure out how to defend them and score on the offensive end."

Dee Bost is coming off a freshman of the week performance against Arkansas. He scored 17 points and had five rebounds and five assists against the Razorbacks.

Complicating matters for Gottfried is the status of star point guard Ronald Steele, who continues to be hampered with a heel problem.

"It's a progressive thing with his heel," Gottfried said. "Ron didn't practice before the LSU game, and we'll hold him out for a couple of days right now. When they don't practice, it's difficult to stay sharp."

Gottfried said he is not certain of the long-term prognosis for Steele's injury,

"We're going day-to-day right now," he said.

The uncertainty with Steele, who played 36 minutes against LSU, puts added pressure on Senario Hillman and Alonzo Gee. Hillman was clutch against LSU with 24 points, including several clutch free throws in the closing minutes.

"He's not afraid to make a play," Gottfried said. "Against LSU, he stepped up at key times and made big plays for our team offensively and defensively."

Gregg Dewalt can be reached at 740-5748 or gregg.dewalt@timesdaily.com.