Alabama guard Aden Holloway ready for return to Neville Arena
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama guard Aden Holloway has already faced his former team once this season. But that was on his new home court at Coleman Coliseum in February.
On Saturday, March 8, Holloway will play in his first game inside Neville Arena since transferring from Auburn to Alabama. Nate Oats expects Tiger fans to give him a warm welcome.
“Their fans are very energetic, very emotional,” Oats said on Friday. “I don’t know what words you’d like to use to describe them. You guys know how their fans are, so I’m sure they’ll be rooting for Aden to have a bad game, and he’s gotta be mentally tough and just go in there and play basketball.”
In the first meeting, Holloway dealt with foul trouble and only played 16 minutes in Alabama’s 94-85 loss to Auburn in Tuscaloosa. But he still scored 10 points against his former teammates, continuing a streak of what proved to be six straight games scoring double figures. Dating back to Kent State, Holloway put up double-digit points in 16 of 19 games.
He’s had three games with four or more made 3s and two 20-point performances. Holloway has been one of Alabama’s best players, which is why Oats is worried about Saturday.
“To me, it shouldn’t be any he’s gotta prove this, that,” Oats said. “Nah, he just needs to play basketball. He needs to play tough, hard, physical, make the right plays, play smart. If he gets open shots, take them. But he isn’t going to force anything. He’s been really good for us this year.”
Holloway played in 35 games for Auburn as a true freshman in 2024-25 and made 26 starts for the Tigers. The Charlotte, North Carolina native 7.3 points and 2.7 assists while shooting 31.8 percent from the field and 30.2 percent from three-point range a season ago.
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He entered the transfer portal after his freshman year at Auburn and elected to stay in the state and commit to Oats and Alabama. Holloway has come off the bench in every game.
Holloway enters the rematch with his former team averaging 11.7 points per game and shooting 47.3 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from 3-point range. In 17 games against SEC foes this season, Holloway shot 42-of-91 (46.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
Oats said he hasn’t yet talked to Holloway about his return to Auburn, but he will sit down with him before the regular-season finale tips off at 1:30 p.m. CT (ESPN). As he gets set to play his former team again, Holloway’s coach expects him to have the right mindset.
“It’s obviously gonna be a big game for everybody in our program, but with him going back there, I’m sure their fans will be ready to see him,” Oats said. “I think he’s a pretty mentally tough kid. He’ll be ready for the game.”
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