Alabama was pretty banged up heading into Wednesday night's ACC/SEC Challenge clash against Clemson. In spite of that, the Crimson Tide earned a gritty win over the Tigers.
Alabama is getting closer to full strength, and Nate Oats is hoping that will be the case when the Crimson Tide faces Arizona in Birmingham next Saturday. Alabama has a game before that, however, with UTSA coming to Tuscaloosa for a game on Sunday.
Ahead of that matchup, Oats updated the status of three injured players who sat out Wednesday's win over Clemson: Aden Holloway, Latrell Wrightsell, and Keitenn Bristow.
Oats called Holloway and Wrightsell "game-time decisions" for UTSA on Sunday. Bristow is considered "doubtful."
On Wrightsell:
“Trelly’s gradually doing more in practice. He’ll be a game-time decision,” Oats said. ..."Clarke’s gradually ramping him back up. Hopefully, tomorrow’s better than today, and hopefully he can go on Sunday, but he’ll be a game-time decision."
Oats added that he thought Wrightsell would get Alabama's defense fixed "in a hurry" after what Oats called an "abysmal" second-half defensively against Clemson.
On Holloway:
"Did not practice today. Just to try to give his wrist a little rest. But he’ll be a game-time decision. We’ll see what he’s like on Saturday."
On Bristow:
"Keitenn was back to doing some basketball workouts, he didn’t do anything live today though. He’s doubtful for Sunday. Very hopeful that he’ll be back by the Arizona game.”
Alabama should be close to full strength in time for Arizona next weekend
With due respect to UTSA, which is coached by former Alabama assistant Austin Claunch, Alabama shouldn't need Holloway, Wrightsell, or Bristow to get the job done at home on Sunday. It would be nice to get Wrightsell, in particular, some game reps, though. The senior has only played in three games so far this season after missing the majority of last season after tearing his Achilles in the Players Era Festival.
Oats will likely use Sunday's game against UTSA as an opportunity to further ramp up Miami (FL) transfer guard Jalil Bethea, who made his Alabama debut against Clemson this week. Bethea only played six minutes due to the game being tight and his lack of practice time with the team. He should be featured in a prominent role this weekend.
The good news is everyone appears to be trending in a good direction heading into the biggest non-conference game left on the schedule against Arizona next Saturday. Both Wrightsell and Holloway sound pretty likely to play, with Bristow's status a little bit more up in the air.
It's going to be nice to see what this team looks like at relative full strength. They've looked pretty good well short of it.