Alabama will have to navigate the first game of the Players Era Festival on Monday night against Gonzaga without senior guard Latrell Wrightsell.
Ahead of tip-off, Nate Oats announced that Wrightsell would miss the game. He did not disclose the reason or the severity.
Wrightsell tore his Achilles tendon in last season's Players Era Festival. He made his return to the court in Alabama's second game of the season against St. John's, but has been dealing with an injured finger on his shooting hand. It's not known whether him sitting out tonight is because of that, or perhaps Oats wants to just take a cautious approach with Wrightsell as Alabama prepares to play three games in three days in Las Vegas.
Wrightsell is a key player for Alabama and has been one of the best shooters in the country over his two seasons in Tuscaloosa. He's gotten off to a slow start this season, shooting just 33% from three so far. After scoring 17 points against St. John's in MSG, Wrightsell has scored just a combined 11 points in Alabama's last two games against Purdue and Illinois.
Latrell Wrightsell is out for Alabama against Gonzaga
Facing a team as good as Gonzaga, you would obviously prefer to be full strength. Being without Wrightsell is less than ideal and will likely put even more on the plate of Labaron Philon and Aden Holloway, who are both off to outstanding starts to the 2025-26 season.
Alabama will likely call on freshman Davion Hannah to play a bigger role than he did against Illinois, too.
Could this also perhaps be the debut of Miami (FL) transfer Jalil Bethea? He appears to be getting close to a return to game action. He has been practicing, at least in a limited capacity, recently. Reports from Vegas had him going through pre-game warmups with the team.
It would be a little bit of a surprise if he made his return, but that would be a significant boost with Wrightsell sidelined.
Alabama will need all the firepower it can get to go toe-to-toe with a Gonzaga team that is No. 3 in KenPom early in the season.
UPDATE: The TNT broadcast announced just before tip-off that Wrightsell would be out for the entire Players Era Festival. It's not believed to be anything long-term, but he won't play at all this week in Vegas.