Getting healthy ‘key’ for Alabama basketball with toughest remaining schedule in country

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Nate Oats needs all of his men in condition for battle on the road that lies ahead for Alabama basketball.

According to BPI, the No. 3 Crimson Tide’s last nine games make up the toughest remaining schedule in the country.

However, health seems to be a concern for Alabama (19-3, 8-1 SEC) going into a gauntlet. Already having lost two players for presumably the year, and another freshman whose status hangs in the balance, there’s little room for players in recovery like Chris Youngblood and Labaron Philon to backtrack. Not with No. 1 Auburn coming after the two-game road swing to Arkansas and Texas.

Feb 1, 2025; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama guard Chris Youngblood (8) shoots at three pointer at Coleman Coliseum. Alabama downed Georgia 90-69. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News

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Oats told reporters that freshman Derrion Reid would be out once again after experiencing discomfort in his ankle in his return against Georgia.

Following were talks of what was best for the youngster’s future in Tuscaloosa and beyond, and they sounded pretty similar to the ones that surrounded preserving the eligibility of Pepperdine transfer Houston Mallette, who hasn’t been able to overcome struggles with his knees.

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Mallette and Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who was sidelined in November after an Achilles tendon tear against Oregon, are the only two Crimson Tide players in talks for redshirts at the moment as Reid remains “game-to-game” after sitting out on Saturday.

Getting healthy was ‘key’ for Alabama basketball to withstand battles ahead on schedule

Oats said “it was key” for Alabama to get in shape for not just John Calipari and the Razorbacks on Saturday, but the quick turnaround for Texas on Tuesday. He also highlighted that the freshman Philon looked to be playing with “a lot more pop” in practice after…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/getting-healthy-key-alabama-basketball-191745373.html

Author : The Tuscaloosa News

Publish date : 2025-02-07 19:17:00

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