ALABAMA (1-1): The Crimson Tide welcome back four starters but also a new head coach in Anthony Grant. He's an ex-assistant with Billy Donovan at Florida and enjoyed success as the head man at Virginia Commonwealth. The Tide has split its opening two games, losing at home to Cornell and beating Jackson State. … Cornell shot 50 percent from the floor and hit 10 three-pointers in its 71-67 win. The Tide bounced back defensively and held Jackson State to 41-percent shooting. … Green is a former high school All-American who averaged 10 points and 7 rebounds as a freshman. … Mitchell is off to a fast start in his freshman season. He scored 12 points versus Cornell in his debut and 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting against Jackson State. … The Tide is a bit short-handed early in the season. Starting point guard Anthony Brock was suspended for the Jackson State game. His status for tonight is unclear. Ten players see at least 13 minutes per game.

PROVIDENCE (3-0): The Friars head on the road for the first time this season. PC has played at Coleman Coliseum once before, losing 69-61 in Dec., 2002. Ryan Gomes was a sophomore and the Tide was ranked second in the country. … The two schools have faced each other twice in the NCAA Tournament. The Friars won in 1987 and lost in 1994. … The Friars are 9-15 all-time versus Southeastern Conference teams. The last win over an SEC team came over Arkansas in 2007. Friars are 1-5 all-time playing at SEC teams, beating only South Carolina. … PC swept to World Vision Invitational title with wins over Bryant, Bucknell and Mercer. PC is averaging 83.7 points on 41 percent shooting. … Brooks has a sore ankle and will be a game-time decision. … Keeping the Tide off the boards will be a major focus.

WHERE: Coleman Coliseum, 8 p.m. SERIES: Alabama leads, 3-2. LAST MEETING: PC won, 76-71, on Nov. 29, 2003. RADIO-TV: WEEI (103.7 FM).

—KEVIN McNAMARA