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Grant Nelson update: Latest on Alabama forward before NCAA Tournament first round

63571867_t466o7i5ncby:Blake Byler•03/20/25•

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Mar 8, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Grant Nelson (4) moves to the basket as Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) defends during the second half at Neville Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images

CLEVELAND — One day before Alabama’s first round NCAA Tournament game against 15-seed Robert Morris, injured Alabama forward Grant Nelson spoke about his status:

“It’s getting better every day. I’m still a game-time decision right now,” Nelson said. “I had the same injury last year at the beginning of the season, and it felt identical to it. … It turned out to be the exact same. I’ve got confidence in myself, I know my teammates are gonna do what they can do help me through this process. I’ve been staying fresh, keeping my handle fresh, shooting. Been doing what I can without overdoing it at this point.”

Head coach Nate Oats also provided an update during his pregame press conference:

“Our trainers are saying he’s day-to-day,” Oats said. “Just yesterday, he started doing basketball, still workouts. He did not go in our live play and practice today. Grant wants to play. He’s a competitor. He played great in the NCAA Tournament last year. It’ll end up being a game time decision based on what he feels like in the morning, but if he does end up playing, he won’t have practiced anything live up until then.

“I think it’s looking a little better, obviously, for Sunday than maybe Friday, but there’s a chance he could play. They’re going to wait to make a decision and see what it looks like tomorrow morning.”

Nelson exited the Crimson Tide’s last game against Florida in the SEC Tournament semifinals with a knee injury late in the first half. He was playing well before his injury with nine points, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block, and Alabama had a 1-point lead when he left the game.

Entering the NCAA Tournament, Nelson is averaging 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.8 percent from the floor. He is shooting just 27.4 percent from 3-point range for the season, but in his last three games, Nelson has made 5-of-11 from deep.

Last season, Nelson was essential during Alabama’s March Madness run. He had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the Sweet 16 win over North Carolina, and in the program’s first-ever Final Four game against UConn, he had a 19-point, 15-rebound double-double.

The Tide’s 2025 NCAA Tournament run will tip off tomorrow morning at 11:40 p.m. CT, with the game airing on truTV. A win would move Alabama to the second round on Sunday to face the winner of 7-seed Saint Mary’s and 10-seed Vanderbilt.

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