Alabama Starter is OUT for Sweet 16 Game vs. UNC

Alabama will be without a big contributor.

When North Carolina and Alabama play tonight’s Sweet 16 game, the Crimson Tide will be without one of its starting guards. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. sustained a head injury in their Elite 8 game against Grand Canyon. He would sustain a head injury in the first half, and would not come back in. Now, he has been ruled out for tonight.

Impact

Wrightsell is Alabama’s fifth-leading scorer, averaging 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He plays around 23.5 minutes and has been a major contributor all year. He is a transfer from Cal State Fullerton and was named an All-Big West First Team member last season. Wrightsell has scored 19 or more points five times this season.

This could force Alabama to play a bigger lineup tonight. Their next highest scoring guard averages 3.6 points per game. However, they have a number of wings and forwards who can come in and make a major impact. Nick Pringle, Sam Walters, Jarin Stevenson, and Davin Cosby Jr. have all shown the ability to make an impact.

What to Expect

The game tonight will be up and down. Alabama has the best offense in the country and plays fast. North Carolina has always been a fast-paced team. This one should be fun.

Hopefully, Wrightsell is back to good health soon.

Thank you for reading CarolinaHQ. Please follow us on Twitter at @TheCarolinaHQ and our Facebook group for the latest news and stories about the Tar Heels. For feedback, questions, concerns or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on Twitter at @TheCarolinaHQ. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the fastest-growing North Carolina sports sites. We cover all sports and would love to have you read and be interested in our content!