Alabama’s bench could be key to the Tide making another deep run in the NCAA tourney
Alabama guard Aden Holloway (2) passes the ball against Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/George Walker IV]
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s bench might be the key to the team making another deep run in the NCAA Tournament, especially with starting forward Grant Nelson dealing with a left knee injury. The second-seeded Tide open NCAA play against No. 15 seed in Robert Morris in Cleveland on Friday. Alabama (25-8) ranks seventh in the country in bench points, averaging 34.19 a game from its reserves. It’s the kind of diversified scoring that makes coach Nate Oats’ squad a daunting matchup for anyone in the field, especially on short notice.
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Alabama head coach Nate Oats signals during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida, Wednesday, March 5, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Vasha Hunt