Nate Oats provides newest Alabama basketball injury news ahead of Oklahoma

Alabama men’s basketball is facing a critical moment in its SEC campaign, and staying competitive may hinge on how quickly the roster can recover from a growing list of injuries. Head coach Nate Oats has acknowledged that health, more than tactics, is currently the program’s biggest concern as the Crimson Tide prepare for a challenging road matchup against Oklahoma.

Following a physically demanding stretch, Oats made the decision to give his players Wednesday off in an effort to aid recovery. With several key contributors unavailable in recent games, rest has become just as important as preparation.

“We took Wednesday off to try and get guys healthy,” Oats explained, underlining how depleted the squad has become.

The decision was hardly surprising. Alabama entered its recent matchup against Mississippi State with five scholarship players unavailable, a situation that severely tested the team’s depth. Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Davion Hannah, Taylor Bol Bowen, Keitenn Bristow, and Collins Onyejiaka were all listed as out prior to the game in Starkville.

While Onyejiaka’s absence has been a familiar issue—he has struggled to see the floor for much of the season—the combined unavailability of so many players highlighted just how thin Alabama’s rotation has become. Even so, the Crimson Tide managed to overcome the odds, pulling off a convincing 97–82 road win with just eight scholarship players available.

That performance showcased Alabama’s resilience, but Oats knows relying on such short-handed lineups is not sustainable in the long run, especially with SEC play intensifying.

Providing an update on the injured players, Oats offered cautious optimism on some fronts while acknowledging longer-term concerns elsewhere.

“Latrell is improving,” Oats said. “He’s doing some basketball workouts. Didn’t practice today. Nothing really further on him.”

Wrightsell’s progress is encouraging, but the fact that he has yet to return to full practice suggests the staff remains careful not to rush him back.

The outlook is less positive for Keitenn Bristow, whose ankle injury could sideline him for an extended period.

“Keitenn’s out indefinitely with a right ankle injury,” Oats confirmed.

Meanwhile, Taylor Bol Bowen attempted to take part in practice, though his recovery remains uncertain.

“Taylor attempted to practice today,” Oats said. “His hand’s not obviously full speed. We’ll see how it responds after practice today and see what he’s got.”

With multiple players still questionable, Alabama will continue monitoring the situation closely. The Crimson Tide, currently ranked No. 18, are set to face Oklahoma on Saturday in Norman, with tipoff scheduled for noon CT on SEC Network. Official availability reports are expected Friday night and again Saturday before the game.

Despite the injury challenges, Alabama has shown it can still compete at a high level. The win over Mississippi State was a testament to the toughness and adaptability of the players who were able to suit up. Still, Oats admitted that playing with such limited depth is far from ideal, particularly as the grind of conference play continues.

The adversity, however, appears to have had an unexpected upside. According to Oats, the injury situation has helped bring the remaining players closer together and sharpen their focus.

“Us being down has kind of galvanized the group that’s playing,” Oats said. “They’ve kind of proven to be some tough kids pulling together. Sometimes you need a little adversity to pull the group together. I think that’s what’s happened with this group.”

With so few players available, those on the floor understood the responsibility placed on them and responded accordingly.

“We got down to a low number of guys,” Oats added. “They knew they needed to bring it. They brought it. Guys we put on that floor against Mississippi State were some warriors.”

That mentality will be crucial moving forward. While Alabama has demonstrated it can win games even when shorthanded, the cumulative toll of injuries could eventually catch up with the team. Getting players back to full strength will be essential if the Crimson Tide hope to contend for the SEC title and make a deep postseason run.

As the matchup against Oklahoma approaches, Alabama’s focus remains split between preparation and recovery. The coaching staff will continue evaluating each player’s condition daily, weighing the risks of returning them too soon against the need for depth and stability.

For now, the Crimson Tide are leaning on grit, chemistry, and resilience—qualities that have already carried them through adversity. Whether that will be enough against Oklahoma and the rest of the SEC field may ultimately depend on how quickly Alabama can get healthy again.