Auburn men’s basketball is one of the best in the country at not turning the ball over. Alabama men’s basketball is not.

The Tigers on offense rank No. 7 nationally in turnover percentage, per KenPom. The Crimson Tide sits at No. 207.

Alabama can’t allow the turnover problem to pop up again against Auburn. The two teams are set to play in the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 regular-season game in SEC history. Auburn, ranked No. 1 in the AP top 25 and No. 2 in the coaches poll, will face Alabama, ranked No. 2 in the AP top 25 and No. 1 in the coaches poll, on Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN) at Coleman Coliseum.

“We need Mark Sears and Grant Nelson to stop turning the ball over,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said Friday. “That’s what needs to happen. We have two fifth-year seniors that have played over 100 basketball games that know how to take care of the ball who have not taken care of the ball and we need them to.”

Sears and Nelson average the most turnovers per game of any Alabama players. Sears averages 2.8 turnovers. Nelson averages 2.1 turnovers. No other player is above 1.6 (Labaron Philon).

In conference play, it has been about the same. Sears is averaging three turnovers per game. Nelson’s averaging 2.18.

“If you look at the turnover rates between those two guys, they’re just way too high,” Oats said. “We’ve got to quit trying to make home-run plays. We’ve got to quit over-driving. Gaps that aren’t there. We’ve got to get the ball out of our hands earlier. We’ve got to make the appropriate reads, whether it’s pick-and-roll or drive reads. Elbow catch reads with Grant. If those two guys can significantly reduce their turnovers, the team turnover rate will go down and look a lot more like we need it to look like.”

Turnovers haven’t cost Alabama in many games this season, even though the number has been high. But against Auburn, every possession will matter. Giveaways won’t lead to a win.

“Hopefully they understand the gravity of particularly live ball turnovers against Auburn,” Oats said. “Kind of ignite their break and get them going. We just can’t afford any of them. We need those two guys, fifth-year senior captains to understand the importance of it and take care of the ball tomorrow.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.