Cavs Draft Viewing Guide: 2 rivalry games on SAT with 2 impressive PGs

Why you should watch Arkansas at Alabama

What: Arkansas (19-5) at Alabama (15-9)

When: Saturday, Feb. 12 | Time: Noon EST

Where: Coleman Colosseum  — Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Coverage: SEC Network 

Friday night we were once again treated to some ugly basketball, as Darius Garland sat out again with lower back soreness. Personally, I think this is becoming a problem, but I digress.

Rajon Rondo, the team’s main ball-handler without Garland often, played a solid game last night. He had 17 points, including a huge fourth quarter three-pointer in Cleveland’s comeback W over Indiana.

However, Rondo is 35 years old, so the Cavs would be wise to hang onto the second-round pick they acquired from Indiana and/or their Spurs second, and look at some early second-round point guards. One of those who might be available at that slot, in relation to the Spurs second, is Alabama point guard JD Davison.

Davison is a 6-foot-3 guard who is incredibly athletic and exciting. When you watch him play, it’s more of a physical style, but he does have an incredible vertical leap and explosion. Defensively, he has all the traits to be a lockdown perimeter defender, it’ll just depend on if he puts in the effort.

He’s comfortable shooting from anywhere in the gym, though his coach might have something to say about that. He’s comfortable shooting yes, but he needs to get more consistent. Because of his physicality and explosion, coming out he reminds me of Steve Francis or even a strong Dennis Smith Jr. Smith Jr. has bounced around the league for a couple years now, so let’s hope that’s not the case for Davison.

The Alabama lead guard is a bit raw, somewhat like the last Alabama guard drafted, Josh Primo, who plays for the Spurs. On top of all of this, Arkansas just knocked off previously-number one-ranked Auburn this past week.

So, tensions will be high in this rivalry game.