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The initial availability report for Alabama basketball's game against Texas included an unexpected name from the Crimson Tide.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. was listed as doubtful ahead of No. 12 Alabama's return to Coleman Coliseum on Saturday, January 10. While coach Nate Oats didn't touch on Wrightsell's availability during press conferences held a few hours before the initial injury update on Friday, he did mention a new ailment that the veteran guard is dealing with.
Oats said that Wrightsell had a "groin deal" when listing the injuries that Wrightsell has been recovering from during the 2025-26 season.
"He's coming back from the Achilles. Then he has the other Achilles, maybe an overcompensation or whatever. He's got the finger. He's got a groin deal. It's just been one thing after the other," Oats continued.
VEGAS OUTLOOK: Betting odds for Alabama basketball vs Texas, plus Tide record after loss
REQUIRED READING: What book did Alabama basketball's Nate Oats give Latrell Wrightsell?
Wrightsell has gone into some games without having practiced during the week, according to Oats.
Wrightsell's recovery journey was compared to that of now-Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Youngblood, who hadn't touched his full potential this time last year.
"He’d just gotten healthy and missed the whole offseason. Just stayed locked in. Came back, didn’t shoot as well," Oats explained. "CY was a little frustrated with his play, because he wanted to come sooner. It’s hard when you’ve sat as many reps as CY did last year and as Latrell has this year, to be as sharp as you’d want to be."
Oats said Alabama (11-4, 1-1) is encouraging Wrightsell to "stay with it, learn how to face some adversity" while keeping his faith at the center.
Through injury, Wrightsell has made six starts in 10 appearances. Despite battling a shooting slump and hitting only about 33% of shots from the field, he is averaging 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
"If Latrell could be in CY’s shoes a year from now, I think he’d be really happy," Oats said.
Wrightsell was joined on the injury report by Labaron Philon and Aiden Sherrell, listed with their expected designations of probable and questionable, respectively. Alabama and Texas (9-6, 0-2) tip off at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
This story will be updated with new information.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball injury update: Will Latrell Wrightsell play vs Texas?
Continue reading...
Latrell Wrightsell Jr. was listed as doubtful ahead of No. 12 Alabama's return to Coleman Coliseum on Saturday, January 10. While coach Nate Oats didn't touch on Wrightsell's availability during press conferences held a few hours before the initial injury update on Friday, he did mention a new ailment that the veteran guard is dealing with.
Oats said that Wrightsell had a "groin deal" when listing the injuries that Wrightsell has been recovering from during the 2025-26 season.
"He's coming back from the Achilles. Then he has the other Achilles, maybe an overcompensation or whatever. He's got the finger. He's got a groin deal. It's just been one thing after the other," Oats continued.
VEGAS OUTLOOK: Betting odds for Alabama basketball vs Texas, plus Tide record after loss
REQUIRED READING: What book did Alabama basketball's Nate Oats give Latrell Wrightsell?
Wrightsell has gone into some games without having practiced during the week, according to Oats.
Wrightsell's recovery journey was compared to that of now-Oklahoma City Thunder guard Chris Youngblood, who hadn't touched his full potential this time last year.
"He’d just gotten healthy and missed the whole offseason. Just stayed locked in. Came back, didn’t shoot as well," Oats explained. "CY was a little frustrated with his play, because he wanted to come sooner. It’s hard when you’ve sat as many reps as CY did last year and as Latrell has this year, to be as sharp as you’d want to be."
Oats said Alabama (11-4, 1-1) is encouraging Wrightsell to "stay with it, learn how to face some adversity" while keeping his faith at the center.
Through injury, Wrightsell has made six starts in 10 appearances. Despite battling a shooting slump and hitting only about 33% of shots from the field, he is averaging 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
"If Latrell could be in CY’s shoes a year from now, I think he’d be really happy," Oats said.
Wrightsell was joined on the injury report by Labaron Philon and Aiden Sherrell, listed with their expected designations of probable and questionable, respectively. Alabama and Texas (9-6, 0-2) tip off at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
This story will be updated with new information.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball injury update: Will Latrell Wrightsell play vs Texas?
Continue reading...
