Alabama basketball faces Kansas State

Kids know nothing gets the competitive juices flowing more than facing your best friends.

Of course, Anthony Grant and Frank Martin have always played with each other.

Until tonight. Grant’s Alabama basketball team plays Martin’s Kansas State Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. in Mobile. It’s the second game of a doubleheader at South Alabama’s Mitchell Center. UAB and the Jaguars play the opener. Both games will be televised regionally on CSS.

Grant and Martin don’t go back years, they go back decades. They were classmates at Miami (Fla.) Senior High, graduating in 1983.

“Frank and I went to high school together. We coached together,” the Crimson Tide’s coach said. “I went to the University of Dayton, and Frank started coaching either right after high school or maybe a year or so later while he was still in college. ...

“Then when I finished, I went back and I was an assistant coach at the high school, and Frank was the head JV coach and assistant varsity coach. We got a chance to spend a lot of time together. We were together there for five years on staffs together. When I got into college coaching, Frank was still in high school coaching. He coached at our alma mater, and I was able to recruit some of his players to play for us at the University of Florida.”

They’ll cross paths again tonight. Martin’s Wildcats are 9-1 and ranked No. 17 in the country with wins over UNLV, Xavier, Washington State and Dayton. Kansas State is the third ranked opponent the Crimson Tide has faced. Alabama defeated then-No. 15 Michigan and lost last Saturday night at home to No. 5 Purdue.

Ironically, the friends didn’t set this game up.

“It was already on the schedule,” Grant said. “For me, I don’t necessarily like playing against my friends. But typically, what happens is once the game starts, it’s your team against your opponent. I’m sure we’re both going to try to be as prepared as we can and try to put our team in position to win.”

Warren, in his third year in Manhattan, Kan., has been doing that consistently this season. The Wildcats haven’t been held under 70 points in a game.
Jacob Pullen leads them with 19.2 points per game. Denis Clemente, a transfer from Miami, is second in scoring, averaging 14.8 ppg. Two others average in double figures.

“I’m really impressed with Kansas State’s size, physicality and how hard they play,” Grant said.

He sees his friend’s impact on the Wildcats.

“When they play, they play to the identity of their coach from an energy and discipline standpoint,” he said. “They’re very worthy of the ranking they’ve received.”

Alabama followed its second-half collapse against Purdue with a solid 60-45 victory over Samford on Wednesday.

Mikhail Torrance leads Alabama in scoring this season with 15.4 points per game on 52.5 percent shooting with 5.5 assists per game. JaMychal Green averages 14.5 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game.

Personal pride may be on the line tonight — but not a friendship.

“I’m really happy for him and the success he’s enjoyed,” Grant said. “I know how hard he’s worked and how dedicated he’s been, so it’s good to see him have success.”