Alabama basketball's injured trio was able to knock rust off in Game 1

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama tipped off the 2024-25 season with an impressive 110-54 win over UNC Asheville on Monday night. But some of the Crimson Tide players were knocking off the rust of a preseason that didn’t see them spend much time on the practice court.

Veteran returners Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell, as well as true freshman Aiden Sherrell, had all dealt with injuries prior to Alabama’s season opener. They were all able to play, albeit on a minutes restriction, but it was evident that they had missed precious practice time.

“They all needed to get the rust knocked off,” said Alabama head coach Nate Oats. “I think that pass you saw Grant throw into the stands, that’s what happens when you don’t practice for a month. Trelly, I could just tell he wasn’t his normal self, and then he hit that one three coming off a ball screen right in front of our bench in the second half. You could kind of just feel that he was relieved.

“I think you’ll see all three of those guys look better, particularly Trelly and Grant. … (They) weren’t what they were at the end of last year because they just hadn’t practiced as much. I think you’ll see them look a lot better Friday night. I think they needed to get a game under their belt, and they have. And I think they’ll look a little bit better.”

Wrightsell played 16 minutes against UNC Asheville and scored 13 points. He was 1-of-4 from three and missed the first free throw of his Alabama career (2-of-3). Nelson was on the floor for 15 minutes and scored two points at the line (2-of-4). Both recorded three rebounds.

Making his collegiate debut, Sherrell played 17 minutes and tallied six points and a team-high nine rebounds. He was more efficient than his older teammates were against the Bulldogs.

“I thought with Aiden – not only was he out for a while, it was also his first game in college – but I was pretty happy with Aiden, to be honest with you,” Oats said. “For his first game in college to not practice for as long as he had, he went to the offensive glass. I thought he played great for us. He’s gonna continue to get better, too.”

Because of their injuries, neither Nelson nor Wrightsell were in the starting lineup for the season opener. Nelson started all 37 games of Alabama’s Final Four run last year, while Wrightsell was on the floor for 12 opening tips. Oats went with a starting five of Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Derrion Reid, Jarin Stevenson and Clifford Omoruyi against UNC Asheville.

One day before the Tide welcomes Arkansas State to Coleman Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 8, the head coach was if it is important to have a firm starting lineup or if he will continue to mix guys in and out, considering the depth of Alabama’s roster that is, right now, 10-strong.

“I would anticipate us mixing guys in and out, for a while at least,” Oats said. “I think whether it’s matchup-wise, guys injuries. Those three guys will still be on a minutes restriction. It’ll be a little bit more than last game. But all that stuff kind of plays into it and then it’s also, I don’t think it’s the smartest thing to play all your veteran guys right away at the beginning and then have all your young guys come in. It’d be good to have a mixture of both. 

“I think the veteran guys maybe help the younger guys, the younger guys’ energy. I mean, shoot, Labaron had nine assists. Sometimes you put him out there with some of the veteran shooters and whatnot, and he’s done a good job of finding them. 

“I think we’re gonna mix it up a little bit. I’m still not quite sure who’s gonna start this game, but everybody will get an opportunity a play. All the scholarship guys, I would anticipate they would all play and kind of see who earns more minutes from there.”

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