1. Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who exited Sunday’s game due to a head injury, should be able to play for Alabama in the Sweet 16 the next week, according to Nate Oats. Spokane, Washington — Latrell Wrightsell Jr., who left Sunday’s game due to a head injury, is probably going to play in the Crimson Tide’s Sweet 16 battle against UCLA next week, according to Alabama coach Nate Oats.

“Wrightsell will be able to play with us on Thursday,” Oats declared following Alabama’s NCAA tournament second-round victory over Grand Canyon, 72–61. He suffered a head injury after being elbowed in the head. Although he’s been having a lot of terrible luck lately, we’re going to play again, and he can play with us on Thursday.”

With 6:36 remaining in the first half, Wrightsell was forced off the field due to a head injury he sustained while trying to block a shot. Alabama’s training personnel took care of him, took him to the locker room, and he never came back.

“We’re going to win this game for him so we can play on Thursday, and that’s what we did,” said Alabama’s Mark Sears, who led the Tide with 26 points on Sunday. “Once we came in at halftime, he was there dapping us up.”

Due to a brain ailment, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard from Omaha missed four games earlier in the season. During his absence, Alabama dropped four out of six games from the end of the regular season to the SEC tournament.

After playing 11 minutes on Sunday, Wrightsell finished with two points and two fouls. This season, he has averaging 9.3 points while shooting 45.1% from the field and 44.9% from beyond the arc.

“That’s my brother, for real,” Rylan Griffen said. “He is a native of the West Coast. Since he went there the previous year, he brought several friends and family with him. As soon as I joined the squad, I thought, “There’s no way that was his final game of the season.” I just wanted to make sure we got through because I know he wants to play. “I’m aware that he didn’t want to get injured today. He walked outside and gave us everything he had during his little playtime. I thus thought, “Let’s make sure Trelly gets another opportunity to play for us this season.”

Next Thursday in Los Angeles, the regional semifinals between Alabama, the fourth-seeded team in the West Region, and top-seeded North Carolina will take place.

“We play for each other every game,” said Mo Dioubate, who helped Alabama win with nine points in the last six minutes. “We know how much Trelly wanted to play in L.A., and so we seen how hurt he was once went out game, so we just tried to do everything we can for him.”