Alabama @ Rhode Island preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 6, 2017 ) Rhode Island 64, Alabama 68

With his first victory as coach of Alabama in the bag, Nate Oats will take his team to the Northeast on Friday for a game against Rhode Island. Oats was hired after a successful stint at Buffalo (96-43 in four seasons) to take the Crimson Tide, who are 2-0 against the Rams, to the next level following a string of mediocre seasons.

The first few months have been a challenge for Oats beginning with Villanova transfer Jahvon Quinerly being denied a waiver by the NCAA. The Crimson Tide has also been hit by the injury bug, which contributed to its season-opening loss to Pennsylvania, but things started to turn around in Monday's win over Florida Atlantic. Javian Davis was inserted into the starting lineup after not doing much in the season opener and the 6-9 forward from Canton, Miss., who redshirted last season under former coach Avery Johnson, responded with 19 points and nine rebounds. The Rams proved no match for No. 8 Maryland on Saturday, falling 73-55 despite a 17-rebound effort from senior Cyril Langevine.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT ALABAMA (1-1): Kira Lewis, Jr. enjoyed a productive freshman season under the previous regime, averaging 13.5 points, but under Oats is looking like one of the top players in the SEC. The former five-star recruit, who was ranked in the top 30 players nationally by 247Sports coming out of high school, has put up 23 points per game to start the season while averaging seven rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.5 steals. "Kira's as skilled as any kid I've coached offensively. I'm just trying to get him to better defensively," Oats told the media. "He's coming. He's working at it. He just turned 18, so he's still a young kid."

ABOUT RHODE ISLAND (1-1): Once more of a facilitator, Jeff Dowtin has seen his role change and his assists per game plummet for the Rams. The senior from Upper Marlboro, Md., who averaged 5.6 assists as one of the driving forces behind a team that won 25 games two seasons ago for former coach Dan Hurley, is dishing out only two per game this season as he, Langevine and Fatts Russell have had to carry the scoring load for coach David Cox. "He had to learn to become a scorer as well as a facilitator," Cox said of Dowtin, who is averaging 13.5 points this season after putting up 15.3 points in 2018-19. "I think he's grown into that role."

TIP-INS

1. Crimson Tide freshman G Jaden Shackelford, the seventh-rated player to come out of California, has started his career in fine fashion by posting 33 points and nine rebounds in the two games.

2. Alabama defeated Rhode Island 68-64 at home two seasons ago but only three players who played that day - John Petty, Jr., Galin Smith and Herbert Jones - remain with the team.

3. The Crimson Tide went 107-96 over the past six seasons, including five under Johnson, winning 20 games only once over the span.

PREDICTION: Alabama 77, Rhode Island 72