Alabama basketball is gearing up for a challenging start to the NCAA Tournament as they face the prospect of playing without their standout guard, Aden Holloway. Coach Nate Oats announced Monday night that the Crimson Tide are "preparing to play without" Holloway when they take on Hofstra this Friday.
Holloway, a key player for Alabama and currently second on the team in scoring with an impressive 16.8 points per game, was arrested on a felony drug charge in Tuscaloosa County. Following the arrest, he was "removed from campus," putting his participation in the tournament in serious doubt.
During his regular appearance on Alabama’s radio call-in show, "Hey Coach," Oats addressed the situation candidly. "We've got standards in our program, and we've got ways we've held our guys accountable," Oats explained.
"We try to keep everything in-house, but sometimes that's just not possible. This situation is different.
We found out about it this morning and had to suspend him pending the investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct."
Oats expressed disappointment but also support for Holloway, emphasizing the team's commitment to helping him through this difficult time. "We're certainly disappointed in his behavior.
But that being said, we still love him. He's still our guy.
We're helping him get the help that he needs and we're going to continue to help him, whatever way we can."
Despite the setback, Oats remains focused on the task ahead, noting that the team had a solid practice session. "We're preparing to play without him this weekend," he stated.
Holloway has been a standout performer this season, shooting 48 percent from the field and an impressive 44 percent from beyond the arc. His scoring prowess includes ten games with 20 or more points, highlighted by a season-high 26 points against Kentucky in the SEC opener.
Alabama, boasting a 23-9 record, enters the tournament as the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region. They'll face the No. 13 seed Hofstra, who holds a 24-10 record, at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida.
The game is set for a 2:15 p.m. CT tipoff and will be broadcast on truTV.
As the Crimson Tide prepare for this critical matchup, the absence of Holloway will undoubtedly be felt, but the team is determined to rise to the occasion and make a strong showing in the tournament.