Alabama’s backcourt has taken its fair share of hits this season, and Saturday night’s 79-73 loss to Tennessee was another reminder of just how thin things have gotten. The Crimson Tide were without two of their key guards-Aden Holloway and Amari Allen-both sidelined due to injury. And while the team has been managing adversity all season, the absence of those two was especially felt against a tough Volunteers squad.
On Monday, head coach Nate Oats offered an update ahead of Tuesday night’s home matchup against Missouri. The news? A mixed bag.
“Holloway was able to practice today. Provided there’s no setbacks, I anticipate him playing tomorrow,” Oats said. “Amari did not practice, so my guess would be he’s doubtful, but we’ll see what he feels like in the morning.”
Getting Holloway back would be a major lift for Alabama. Even if Allen remains sidelined, just having one of those two guards back in the rotation changes the dynamic for the Tide-particularly on the offensive end.
Holloway and Allen are second and third on the team in both scoring and assists, trailing only standout freshman Labaron Philon. And while the scoring punch is important, it’s the playmaking that Alabama missed most against Tennessee.
The Crimson Tide managed just nine assists in that game-seven of them coming from Philon alone. That’s not a sustainable formula, especially in SEC play.
Holloway, who’s been battling a wrist injury all year, has already missed four games this season. But when he’s been healthy, he’s been electric.
He’s averaging 17.7 points per game on elite shooting splits-48% from the field, 46% from deep, and 82% from the line. Those are numbers that put him among the best shooters in the country, and his ability to break down defenders off the dribble makes him a nightmare to guard.
Even when he’s not directly involved in the action, his presence creates space. Defenses have to account for him, and that opens up opportunities for everyone else.
Allen, meanwhile, has been one of the biggest surprises of the season-not just for Alabama, but in the SEC. The freshman has turned heads with his all-around game and is starting to generate real NBA Draft buzz.
He’s a stat-sheet stuffer: third on the team in points and assists, leading the team in rebounds, and often tasked with guarding the opponent’s best wing. He’s the kind of player who does the little things that don’t always show up in the box score but make a massive difference over the course of 40 minutes.
Unfortunately, Allen’s season has been interrupted by a few nagging injuries, and he’s already missed two games. If he can’t go Tuesday, Alabama will once again be forced to lean heavily on Philon and the rest of the rotation to carry the load.
The Missouri game is a big one for Alabama-not just because it’s at home, but because of what’s coming next. A road trip to Florida looms on Sunday, and the Tide can’t afford to drop a third straight game at Coleman Coliseum. SEC play doesn’t offer many soft spots, and stacking losses can quickly turn a promising season into a grind.
The silver lining? The schedule gives Alabama a bit of breathing room after Tuesday.
With five days between games, there’s a real chance Allen could be back in time for the Florida matchup. If that happens, the Tide might finally be close to full strength-something they haven’t been able to say much this season.
For now, all eyes are on Tuesday night. And if Holloway is indeed back on the floor, Alabama’s offense should look a whole lot more like the one that’s kept them in the SEC hunt all year.