Bruce Pearl knows how lethal Alabama's guard duo of Jahvon Quinerly and Jaden Shackelford can be. On Saturday, Baylor found out the hard way as the two combined for 39 points in an 87-78 Crimson Tide victory.

"Those guys are two of the best guards in the country," Pearl said. "We were very fortunate in our game that Quinerly and Shackleford didn't necessarily go off."

In Auburn's 81-77 win against Alabama in Tuscaloosa on January 11, the Tigers held the two to 27 total points, with Quinerly leading the way with 14. They shot 8-of-33 from the field, including 4-of-18 from behind the arc. Against the Bears, Quinerly shot 3-of-6 from the three-point line.

That's not all the junior can do, according to Pearl.

"When he's shooting it, it makes his cover even more challenging because he's probably the best in the country at going by you," Pearl said of Quinerly. "Like, he's the best in the country, 1-on-1, in going by you."

It's going to be another tough test for Wendell Green, K.D. Johnson and Zep Jasper. Per Pearl, Alabama coach Nate Oats does a great job getting his players, especially the guards, the space required to be dangerous.

"Their spacing is really good," Pearl said. "They shoot inside 3s, outside 3s and free throws. Again, it's going to be a great challenge for us."