Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats Provides Updates on Three Injured Tide Players Ahead of Oklahoma Game on Saturday

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team continues to deal with injuries as we reach the Crimson Tide's fifth game of SEC play against the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. Alabama's bye week comes after Saturday night's matchup with the Sooners, and the Tide will use the week to rest up. The Tide handed the Mississippi State Bulldogs 97-82 on Tuesday night, but had just eight scholarship players available, with Davion Hannah, Collins Onyejiaka, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Taylor Bol Bowen, and Keitenn Bristow all out on Tuesday.

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On Friday, Alabama head coach Nate Oats provided updates on the injured players during a press conference.

"Latrell's improving; he's doing some basketball workouts in practice today," Oats said. "Nothing really further on him. Keitenn's out indefinitely with a right ankle injury. Taylor attempted to practice today. His hand is, well, not as usual. But we'll see how he responds after practice today, and we'll see what he's got.

"I think Taylor is still playing super hard when he's been in, and he's dying to get back on the floor, because I think he feels confident and good about the way he's been playing hard. He'd be the next one we'd add back into the mix if he's able to go tomorrow."

The loss of Bristow is a notable one, as Alabama struggles to collect rebounds when he is unable to play for the Crimson Tide. He has now missed seven of the 16 games for Alabama this season, but has averaged 3.6 points, four rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks when he has played for the Crimson Tide this season.

Bol Bowen has only missed one other game this season for Alabama outside of Mississippi State, due to back spasms against UTSA. The Florida State transfer has averaged nine points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks for the Crimson Tide this season.

Alabama is 12-5 overall this season with a 2-2 record in SEC play after Tuesday night's victory over Mississippi State. After Saturday night, Alabama's next game of SEC play will come on Saturday, January 24.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.