Alabama (6-2 straight up, 3-5 against the spread) guard Latrell Wrightsell will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, head coach Nate Oats announced earlier today.
Wrightsell is scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday and make a full recovery. He was injured in the second half of Saturday’s 83-81 loss to Oregon in Las Vegas.
In the Crimson Tide’s first eight games, Wrightsell averaged 11.5 points, 2.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game. He was hitting 50.0 percent of his field-goal attempts, 42.2 percent of his 3-pointers and 85.0 percent of his free throws.
Wrightsell played in 31 games for Alabama’s Final Four team last season, averaging 8.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He made 44.7 percent of his treys.
The plan by Oats has been to redshirt Pepperdine transfer guard Houston Mallette, who averaged 14.7 PPG and buried 41.5 percent of his 3-pointers for the Waves last year.
With Wrightsell’s injury, Oats was asked today if that changes anything on Mallette’s status.
“We’ve talked about it,” Oats said. “Talked to him and his dad, it’s still on the table. We’re kind of trying to see what – you don’t want to mess up what’s best for the kid. In my history of coaching, I always try to do what’s best for the player.
“Most of the time what’s best for the player is what’s best for the program. We’re trying to figure out if there will be enough minutes to make it worthwhile. That’s definitely on the table, though.”
According to a report from BamaOnline’s Blake Byler, his sources have told him that Mallette is leaning toward burning his redshirt and playing the rest of this season.
In a pair of preseason exhibition games for ‘Bama, Mallette averaged 10.0 PPG and drained 6-of-11 attempts from long distance.
We might find out the answer on Mallette tomorrow night when the Tide plays at North Carolina. As of late Tuesday afternoon, most books had UNC installed as a 1.5-point home favorite with a total of 177.
‘Bama was +115 on the money line at BetMGM.
The Tar Heels will be in revenge mode after losing 89-87 vs. Alabama in last year’s Sweet 16 showdown at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.