Alabama Basketball Faces Tournament Without Star

0:00On March 19th, Alabama basketball standout Aiden Holloway faces two felony charges after authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in his home. The player, who averaged close to 17 points a game this season, admitted to using the drug during the investigation. University officials have removed him from campus, and he won't join the Crimson Tide for their NCAA tournament opener. Coach Nate Oats has made it clear he plans to stand by Holloway through this tough time. He's spoken with the player multiple times since the arrest, stressing the importance of support when someone messes up. Oats compared it to parenting his own daughters, saying real relationships mean sticking around during the stakes. The news hits hard right before the tournament, but the team showed resilience in recent practices. Fans and players are rallying around the roster's depth, especially with Holloway scoring punch now missing from the back court. To adjust, Oats is shifting freshman Amari Allen to full-time guard duties instead of forward.

1:02Other guards, like LaTrell Wrightsell, who's been on fire lately as SEC player of the week, LeBaron Falone and Houston Millett, are stepping up big. Alabama tips off against Hofstra Friday at 2.15pm. Central time on True TV, giving the squad a chance to prove they can roll deep without there.