With its thrilling 92-88 overtime win over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday inside Coleman Coliseum, the Alabama Crimson Tide closed out the 2023-24 regular season with a 21-10 record, including an impressive 13-5 mark in SEC play.
Alabama was able to overcome a 15-point deficit to the Hogs in large part because of the clutch play of senior guard Latrell Wrightsell. Wrightsell finished the contest with 20 points on 8 of 12 shooting. Wrightsell’s four three-point makes were critical for the Tide, but none were more impactful than his game-tieing three with 20 seconds remaining in the contest and forcing overtime in Tuscaloosa.
Wrightsell has been slowly working himself back into the lineup from a head injury he sustained a couple of weeks back and the Crimson Tide struggled in his absence.
Alabama is now a perfect 9-0 on the season when Wrightsell scores in double figures. Mark Sears is clearly the leader of the team, but Wrightsell’s impact can not be overstated. The Crimson Tide is simply not the same team without him in the lineup.
With Alabama’s win on Saturday, they have punched their ticket as a top-four seed in next week’s SEC tournament in Nashville. This means the Tide will not play again until Friday.
This Alabama team appeared to be gassed down the stretch and perhaps no team in the league could be better served for nearly a week’s worth of not only rest but a chance to get healthy.
With a healthy Wrightsell, this is a different Alabama team. His ability to make shots and handle the basketball gives the Tide offense the extra weapon it will need to make a potential deep run both in the SEC tournament and the NCAA tournament.
Put it down big, plain, and straight, Latrell Wrightsell Jr. will play a large part in Alabama’s success in March.
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