Alabama basketball received some good news regarding one of its key players heading into the men’s NCAA Tournament.
Nate Oats on Monday provided a positive update on Grant Nelson’s injury during his ‘Hey Coach’ radio show on the Crimson Tide Sports Network. The sixth-year Crimson Tide coach said that, while Nelson is questionable for its first-round game vs. Robert Morris, Alabama ‘dodged one’ with the senior forward.
Nelson missed the entire second half of Alabama’s SEC tournament semifinal loss to Florida on Saturday due to an apparent left leg injury that he sustained in the first half.
The Devils Lake, North Dakota native leads Alabama in rebounds and blocks per game at 7.6 and 1.2, respectively, while ranking second on the team in scoring at 11.8 points per game, only behind All-American guard Mark Sears.
Alabama, the No. 2 seed in the East Region, will open its 2025 NCAA Tournament slate on Friday, March 21 at 12:40 p.m. ET against No. 15 seed Robert Morris at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. The Crimson Tide are looking to make it back to the Final Four after making it for the first time in program history last season.
Here’s the latest on Nelson and his status for the NCAA Tournament:
Will Grant Nelson play in the NCAA Tournament? Status for Alabama forward in March Madness
Yes, Nelson is expected to return and play in the NCAA Tournament, though when he actually returns to the Crimson Tide is still to be determined. Oats on Monday said it’s more likely for him to return in the second round than the first round, should Alabama win its first-round game.
‘Not sure he’ll be ready by Friday,’ Oats said. ‘We’re hoping at a minimum that he’d be ready by Sunday with the possibility of maybe Friday.’
He added: ‘We dodged one. It wasn’t anything too serious with his knee, but for sure will be questionable for Friday.’
Grant Nelson injury update
Nelson sustained an apparent left leg injury in the first half of Alabama’s SEC semifinal against Florida on Saturday, March 15.
The injury for the 6-foot-11 forward came near the 3:40 mark of the first half. As previously reported by The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, Nelson attempted to push through the injury and continue playing before exiting the floor ‘in visible pain.’
He was looked at by Alabama’s medical staff during halftime, and then later ruled out for the remainder of the contest due to injury. In the lead-up to the Selection Sunday bracket reveal show, CBS Sports college basketball insider Jon Rothstein reported that Nelson would spend Monday visiting a knee specialist.
What is Grant Nelson’s injury?
Oats told reporters in Nashville following Alabama’s loss to Florida on Saturday that Nelson is dealing with a left leg injury and didn’t believe it to be an ACL injury.
‘He got that knee injury and I’m not exactly sure what it is,’ Oats said on Saturday. ‘They’re not thinking it’s anything with an ACL or anything like that.
‘Got evaluated by the team doctor at halftime. Let us know in the second half he wasn’t going to be able to go.’
Grant Nelson stats
Here’s a look at Nelson’s stats this season:
- Points: 11.8
- Rebounds: 7.6
- Assists: 4.0
- Blocks: 1.2
- Shooting: 52.8%
- 3-point shooting: 27.4%
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
