Alabama is hoping to gain some frontcourt firepower during its trip to Cleveland for the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide lost forward Grant Nelson to a knee injury during its loss to Florida in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament on Saturday, March 15, 2025. Nelson limped off the court during the under-4 media timeout of the first half of the Tide’s loss to the Gators. He went straight to the locker room, where he was evaluated by a team doctor, who determined he wasn’t able to return to the game.
Alabama coach Nate Oats told reporters Sunday, March 16, 2025, about Nelson’s condition, noting, "We need to get him healthy. Not sure if he'll be ready by Friday. We're hoping at a minimum he'd be ready by Sunday with the possibility of maybe being ready by Friday. I thought he played pretty well. We dodged one. It wasn't anything too serious with his knee, but for sure will be questionable for Friday." Nelson's absence could prove troublesome for Alabama as they prepare for the NCAA Tournament.
The Crimson Tide (25-8) earned the No. 2 seed in the East Region and will play No. 15 Robert Morris (26-8) on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Rocket Arena, Cleveland, with the game set to tip off at 11:40 a.m. CT, televised on TruTV. If the Tide advances, it will face the winner of No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s (28-5) and No. 10 seed Vanderbilt (20-12) next Sunday, March 23, 2025. Last year, Alabama made the tournament as a No. 4 seed, advancing to the Final Four.
Their recent performance raised concerns, particularly notable after Alabama fell 104-82 to Florida on March 15, 2025, marking their fifth loss in nine games. After the game, Oats reflected on their struggle against Florida, stating, "Obviously not one of our...better games. Florida’s a very good team. We want to be the hardest playing, toughest team on the floor. We were not today, particularly in the second half." His pointed remarks came as it marked the Gators’ start of the second half on a dominant 17-5 run.
Florida's starting backcourt scored significantly, contributing 54 points to the Gators' total, whereas Alabama's three starting guards managed only 26. Oats noted, "When you get locked...locked on what you have to do to win...offense takes care of itself."
Despite the loss, Oats aims for his squad to regroup effectively as they prepare for the national tournament. "We’re going to have to regroup, see how bad we want to try to make a run again in the NCAA tournament this year. We’ll find out where we get sent, who our opponents are tomorrow. Try to regroup," he said. The coach emphasized the need for toughness and discipline, which his players echoed.
"It’s ideal you play the toughest schedule. Whoever you face in March, have to win six tough games. We’ve done it before," reiterated Chris Youngblood, one of Alabama's players. The sentiment around the team suggests they are ready to face challenges head-on.
With injuries looming, particularly Nelson’s knee issue, the importance of teamwork and collective effort is all the more pressing. Since he joined the team, Nelson has been averaging 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds, showcasing his value. "I don’t think it’s anything with an ACL or anything like, going to need some rest," Oats mentioned about Nelson's injury post-game, signaling cautious optimism.
The Alabama Crimson Tide's 25 tournament appearances signify both resilience and ambition. Each game will be pivotal, as they are eager to show their mettle and perhaps recreate the magic of last season's impressive run. Fans will be eager to watch their performance against Robert Morris and encourage them as they pursue the NCAA title.
Regardless of the earlier setbacks, coach Nate Oats remains hopeful for another deep run. "We were right in the game till he went out, so we still should have been able to stay in the game...We’re going to have to get our guys back, regrouped, trying to be the hardest, toughest playing team on the floor, because we were not tonight," he stated after the SEC loss.
This determination resonates as they head toward the NCAA Tournament, and for Oats, the team's ability to adapt and improve as they tackle upcoming matches will be key for success.
