Alabama basketball, now ranked No. 4 in the nation, is hitting its stride as February approaches. After a humbling 74-64 loss to Ole Miss at home, the Crimson Tide has bounced back with consecutive wins over Kentucky and Vanderbilt. However, they’ve been without one of their key reserves, forward Samual “Sam” Reid, for the past three games.
During press conference, head coach Nate Oats provided an update on Reid’s status. “He’s still not full-go in practice,” Oats said. “We thought he’d be back a little quicker, but we’re not gonna push it. He’ll probably be listed as questionable.”
Reid, a former five-star recruit, has demonstrated his potential as a floor-spacing offensive player and a versatile defender. The 6-foot-8 freshman is averaging 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45.7% from the field and 28.1% from three-point range. Reid has scored in double figures six times this season, showing flashes of his raw talent.
The Crimson Tide (5-1 in SEC play) will host LSU on Saturday night at Coleman Coliseum before heading to Starkville for a mid-week road game against Mississippi State. Positioned well to contend for the SEC regular-season title, Alabama’s performance in the coming weeks will be pivotal.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi currently projects Alabama as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest region. According to Lunardi, the Crimson Tide would play their first two rounds in Lexington, Kentucky. As the team sets its sights on a deep postseason run, getting Reid back to full strength could be critical to its success.
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