Alabama basketball only had eight healthy scholarship players available for Tuesday night's road win in Starkville over Mississippi State. It looks like they are going to be in a similar position for Saturday's trip to Norman against Oklahoma.
Ahead of the game against the Sooners, Oats provided an update on three injured Tide players when talking to the media.
“Latrell’s improving,” Oats said of Wrightsell. “He’s doing some basketball workouts. Didn’t practice today, so nothing really further on him. Keitenn’s (Bristow) out indefinitely with a right ankle injury. And then Taylor (Bol Bowen) attempted to practice today. His hand’s not obviously full speed. But we’ll see how he responds after practice today and see what he’s got.”
Oats followed up on Bol Bowen and said he was still experiencing some pain and discomfort.
With Collins Onyejiaka and Davion Hannah also out, if Wrightsell, Bol Bowen, and Bristow are all still unable to go tomorrow, Alabama will face Oklahoma with just eight scholarship players available for the second consecutive game.
The best guess based on what Oats said is that Wrightsell and Bristow (obviously) will be out, and Bol Bowen will probably be questionable and a likely game-time decision.
Alabama likely to be short-handed against Oklahoma
Injuries have plagued the Crimson Tide all season, but they are as beat up as they have been all season right now.
The good news, however, is that it is forcing the healthy guys to play hard and play together. After a sluggish start against Mississippi State on Tuesday, Alabama rallied from down 14 points and won by double digits.
"Us being down players has sort of galvanized the group that is playing," Oats said.
Alabama will need that again in Norman. Oklahoma is in near desperation mode following three straight SEC losses to fall to 1-3 in conference play. They need a win on their home floor - and badly - before back-to-back road games.
Alabama got a gift this week from Texas, which knocked off Vanderbilt. That puts the Crimson Tide right back in the thick of the SEC Championship race. But they can't afford another loss to a middling team this early if they want to stay alive.
The eight, maybe nine if Bol Bowen can play, available tomorrow is going to have to be enough.