Alabama earned a Final Four berth two seasons ago and an Elite Eight spot last year during Mark Sears’ three seasons at the school.
Now the No. 15 Crimson Tide are out to reload and they begin their push on Monday night when they battle North Dakota at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Sears was a first-team All-American last season but the high-scoring guard (18.6 points per game) isn’t the only key loss from a 28-9 squad that lost to Duke in the Elite Eight. Big man Grant Nelson (averages of 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds) and wing Chris Youngblood (10.3 ppg) are two other key departures.
Labaron Philbon (10.6 ppg) flirted with leaving for the NBA after his freshman season before staying put and fellow guard Aden Holloway (11.4 ppg, 87 3-pointers) also is a key returner. Guards Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (Achilles) and Houston Mallette (knee) are back after injuries short-circuited their 2024-25 campaign.
“We lost quite a bit,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said at the recent Southeastern Conference media festivities. “I think we’ve got good talent coming in. We had some guys that were out last year on a medical redshirt that have experience, Houston Mallette and Latrell Wrightsell, that I think really add something to the team.
“You add Philon back, great freshman year, decided to come back after entering the draft. Holloway, I think he made a big jump from his freshman to sophomore year. First year with us was a sophomore year. I think he’s going to make a bigger jump.”
Wrightsell was averaging 11.5 points in eight games before his injury. He’s entering his sixth season of college basketball after playing his first three campaigns at Cal State Fullerton.
“I’m really excited to get out there and play a game again and get my feet out there and play,” Wrightsell said. “… I just realized that I was stronger than what I thought. I thought with an Achilles injury you’re done for good.”
The contest with North Dakota (12-21 in 2024-25) is a rematch of last season’s memorable clash before 3,085 in Grand Forks, N.D. The Fighting Hawks led for more than half the game and the contest was tied at 85 with under two minutes left before the Crimson Tide prevailed 97-90.
The game was set up to allow Nelson to play one last college game in the state of North Dakota. The native of tiny Devils Lake played at North Dakota State for three seasons before his transfer to Alabama.
The guy who stole the show was Treysen Eaglestaff, who scored 40 points for North Dakota. However, he’s no longer with the Fighting Hawks after entering the transfer portal and moving on to West Virginia.
In fact, North Dakota not only lost Eaglestaff (18.9 ppg), it also saw second-leading scorer Mier Panoam (13.0) transfer to Xavier and third-leading scorer Amar Kuljuhovic (10.7) depart for Missouri State.
Fighting Hawks coach Paul Sather now is trying to mold together a new group of players.
“Developing roles and really getting guys to understand how they can improve and keep improving and developing in this team,” Sather said at Summit League media day, “because we’re so far right now from where we need to be, but I love how these guys are working.”
A key returner for North Dakota is guard Eli King, who averaged 9.5 points and 5.9 rebounds last season while starting all 33 games.
“We’re leaning on him a lot,” Sather said. “Not from a guy that you’ve gotta get us so many points, or this or that, but just from that experience that he brings on both sides of the floor. And he’s a very calming factor for us.”
