Guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. has been one of the most important role players on the team for Alabama Basketball this season. Wrightsell has been a marksman from the perimeter, shooting a career-high 44.5 percent from three-point range and giving the Crimson Tide offense some much-needed spacing.
He has missed the last two games due to a head injury, and his absence was noticeable in both contests. In some ways, the Alabama offense reverted to what it was in some early season games prior to Wrightsell’s emergence.
Bama hit just 8-32 (25%) three-pointers in a close win over Florida, and hit just 6-17 (35%) in a loss at Kentucky. This was the first two-game stretch since the Creighton and Arizona games back in mid-December in which the Tide failed to hit double-digit threes.
It is unknown whether or not Alabama will have Wrightsell back for its game at Ole Miss, but he would certainly make a big difference. His sharpshooting acumen is evident by his 10 games of three triples or more. Ironically, he was on a two-game heater that saw him go 10-18 from deep (56 percent) against LSU and Texas A&M prior to his injury.
Should he return this week, expect to see him space the floor and increase the overall efficiency of the Alabama offense. If he still can’t go, guys like Aaron Estrada, Rylan Griffen, and Sam Walters will have to make spot-up shots at a higher clip.