Houston Mallette back with Alabama after suffering 'significant' injuries
NEWARK, N.J. – Alabama guard Houston Mallette did not travel to Nashville or Cleveland but made the trip to New Jersey for the NCAA Tournament’s second week. Mallette suffered injuries to his body away from the court and missed the SEC Tournament and first two rounds.
Mallette suffered burns at his home in Tuscaloosa, according to sources.
Mallette won’t play against 6-seed BYU, as he is redshirting this season, but sitting in the locker room at Prudential Center on Tuesday, the senior guard provided an update on his health.
“I just want to preface this by saying God is great, and I’m very thankful for Him,” Mallette told BamaOnLine. “I’m very blessed to be in this position I’m in. I had an incident that happened at my house about two weeks ago, and I suffered some significant injuries to a couple of my body parts – my face, my neck, my shoulders.
“It’s been hard. My family came. They were there with me. My girlfriend came, she helped me. But the recovery has been difficult, but I’ve gotten to the point where I’m able to travel again, which I’m very thankful for. I’m just really excited to be back with the team, and I’m blessed to be back in this position.
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“I just want to thank the University of Alabama, Dr. Buettner, Dr. Cain, Clarke Holter, the whole coaching staff and especially the medical staff. The medical staff at UAB, they were amazing, and they really helped me these past couple of weeks.”
Head coach Nate Oats reiterated Mallette’s injuries were non-basketball-related and said he joined the team in New Jersey via a commercial flight from Alabama – the team flew straight to New Jersey after its first two games in Cleveland. Oats is happy to have him back.
“He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever coached in my life,” Oats said. “I want him with the program. He wanted to be with us. He just health-wise wasn’t able to make the first two rounds. Although he’s back with us, he’ll be on the bench with us.”
Alabama’s Sweet 16 matchup with BYU on Thursday, March 27, will tip at 6:09 p.m. CT (CBS).
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