Alabama's backcourt will be thin for the season opener against North Dakota on Monday night. Along with the injury to Jalil Bethea that will have him out for an indeterminate amount of time, the Crimson Tide will also be without Aden Holloway and Latrell Wrightsell. Transfer forward Keitenn Bristow will also miss the game with an injury.
Nate Oats told the Crimson Tide Sports Network before the game that all three would be out for the game, but that he hoped they would be available for Saturday's matchup at Madison Square Garden against St. John's.
Holloway was spotted with a brace on his wrist, an injury that has "flared up" in recent days, according to Oats. Wrightsell's injury, fortunately, has nothing to do with his recovery from last season's torn Achilles. Oats said Wrightsell has a finger injury that he suffered during the exhibition win over Furman that was re-aggravated in practice. Bristow rolled his ankle in practice and is considered "day-to-day."
Nate Oats says on his @UA_CTSN pregame interview that Latrell Wrightsell hurt his finger in the Furman game and re-aggravated it in practice. Day-to-day.
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) November 4, 2025
Aden Holloway has a wrist injury that "flared up." Day-to-day.
Keitenn Bristow rolled his ankle in practice this weekend.…
Nate Oats will have to rely on several freshmen for major minutes vs. North Dakota
Fortunately for Alabama, North Dakota should be the worst team the Crimson Tide encounters this season. North Dakota ranks 314th in KenPom's preseason rankings. But with the three new injuries combining with Bethea being out, Alabama will only have nine scholarship players available for the season opener.
Four of those nine are true freshmen. It seemed obvious from the exhibitions that both Amari Allen and Davion Hannah were going to be counted on to contribute immediately, even when Alabama is at full strength.
London Jemison saw spot minutes in both exhibitions, but he'll be needed to play major minutes tonight.
Three of the nine scholarship players are true bigs: Aiden Sherrell, Bucknell transfer Noah Williamson, and freshman Collins Onyejiaka. Oats could experiment with playing Sherrell and Williamson together, but it's unlikely that either will be able to play more than 15-20 minutes.
If you discount the bigs entirely and look at them just as fives, then Alabama has six scholarship players to man four positions.
A lot will be on the plate of sophomore point guard Labaron Philon. Holloway and Wrightsell figured to be the two guys able to spell him from ball-handling duties. With both out, he may have to play the whole way unless the Crimson Tide can build a big enough lead to rest him in the second half.