Scotty Pippen reveals Alabama assistant provoked Vanderbilt ahead of SEC Tournament matchup

Trash talk is always healthy, especially when you can back it up — something Scotty Pippen Jr. was able to do in the Commodore’s 83-76 upset win over Alabama Thursday night. Pippen said postgame that an Alabama assistant coach had some choice words for himself and his teammates after Pippen called the Crimson Tide “very beatable” after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs with ease Wednesday night.

“You asked for it so you’re gonna get it,” Pippen said that the ‘Bama assistant told him and his teammates.

Pippen responded, “It got to them, it got to us, so we know we had to come out and get the win.”

Pippen finished the game with 26 points despite a 5-19 shooting night, but logged 7 assists to make up for his low-percentage shooting night, and 18 turnovers from the Crimson Tide aided Vanderbilt in their victory. Alabama will now wait to hear their fate come Selection Sunday, while the Commodores look to make a Cinderella run into the semifinals with a win Friday night.

Vanderbilt erased a 10-point deficit in the second half thanks to an early 14-2 run and never looked back. A litany of missed shots, turnovers, fouls, etc. plagued the Crimson Tide and the Commodores sent them packing for Tuscaloosa earlier than expected.

“Coach [Jerry] Stackhouse came into the locker room and said ‘this is it, you know. Either we go home or play tomorrow, so it was fuel to the fire,” Pippen said during his postgame interview.

Indeed they will. The Commodores will take on the Kentucky Wildcats Friday night in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. The game will tip off approximately 25 minutes following the conclusion of Tennessee and Mississippi State, which is slated for a 6 p.m. ET tip.

Read more about how Vandy upset the Crimson Tide here, including storylines heading into the anticipated matchup between the Commodores and Wildcats.