re: Tide Hoops | Please Anchor

quote:

---

Alabama Pro Updates Retweeted

Tony Tsoukalas@Tony_Tsoukalas·1h
#Alabama forward Darius Miles said he has been getting 3,000-5,000 shots a week in practice

---

quote:

---

Alabama basketball's Nate Oats updates Juwan Gary injury status

Alabama basketball's Juwan Gary is doubtful to play in Tuesday's game against South Alabama, Nate Oats said Monday.

Gary is dealing with a right ankle injury that Oats called day-to-day. Gary didn't practice Monday.

"We'll see what he is like (Tuesday)," Oats said.

Gary's injury, however, is not seen as long-term.

Gary had to hobble off the court against the South Dakota State. Trainers helped him to the locker room, and Gary did not put weight on his right ankle. Oats called it a soft tissue injury that night.

The sophomore forward started the year with a double-double against Louisiana Tech with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Gary also had three steals and an assist in that game.

Gary only played eight minutes before the injury this past Friday.

Without him coming off the bench, South Dakota State's bench out-scored Alabama's 52-19.

No. 13 Alabama (2-0) will face South Alabama (1-1) at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+. 2

---

quote:

---

Notebook: Charles Bediako comfortable in transition to college game

It didn’t take long for Alabama freshman Charles Bediako to start feeling at home at the college level. After joining the men’s basketball program this summer and taking part in a closed scrimmage and charity exhibition, the young center said he found himself feeling comfortable in the Crimson Tide’s opener against Louisiana Tech, a 93-64 win, last week.

“Even though I was in foul trouble, for some reason – I don’t know what it is – but after that game, I felt pretty comfortable knowing what’s a foul, what’s not,” Bediako said “I just adapted that to practice and into the game against South Dakota State, a very good team. I just felt comfortable. I had fun. It’s also fun winning, too, and that’s when I felt comfortable.”

Bediako has been in Alabama’s starting lineup for its first two games and is averaging 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. In the Tide’s most recent outing, a 104-88 win over South Dakota State, the freshman from Brampton, Ont., tallied 12 points and six rebounds.

He told reporters on Monday the biggest difference from the high school to the college levels has been the physicality and speed of the game. But the 6-foot-11, 215-pound rookie has made a smooth transition and used “Angry Chuck” mode to combat physical opponents.

“Big Chuck, we love him, love when he’s aggressive,” sophomore forward Darius Miles said. “When he’s aggressive, I honestly don’t think there’s no big man in the country that can stop him. He just gets us going. We haven’t really had a traditional five-man in the past, and he just shows his presence down in the paint.”

Head coach Nate Oats wants to see a little more of that aggressive side of Bediako as the year progresses, but the third-year coach has liked what he’s seen from the freshman big man.

“He’s been great for us, “Oats said. “He’s a great kid to coach. He does need to play with a little more nasty streak sometimes, but he’s been really, really good for us defensively. All the numbers show it so far. And he’s been good for us offensively, too. He’s finishing at the rim. We’ve gotta get him to make his free throws a little bit better, but he’s coming along at a great pace.

“For only being two games into his college career, I think he’s at a really good spot right now.”

UPDATES ON GARY, TCHIKOU

Redshirt sophomore forward Juwan Gary exited Friday’s game against South Dakota State with a right ankle injury and did not return to the Crimson Tide bench. He came up limping, collapsed once he was off the court and needed help to Alabama’s locker room from staffers.

After the game, Oats only knew it was a soft-tissue injury, but after an MRI and X-rays, he had a better update on Gary’s status moving forward, as well as forward Alex Tchikou, who missed the first two games due to suspension and is still recovering from last year’s Achilles injury.

“Juwan’s got a right ankle that’s day-to-day,” Oats said. “He did not practice today. We’ll see what he’s like tomorrow. Alex Tchikou is available. He’s off his suspension. We’ll see if he’s needed. That’s where we’re at health-wise.”

Gary contributed two rebounds and an assist in eight minutes before sustaining the injury, but he had a strong start to the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench in the opener against Louisiana Tech. He should be back on the court soon, but it will be a long shot for him to play against South Alabama on Tuesday, Nov. 16 (6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+).

“I would probably say, if we’re going through all the NFL (terms), he would be doubtful for tomorrow, if we’ve got all those words to use,” Oats said. “But he will not be out long-term.”

UA REMAINS NO. 14 IN AP POLL

The Crimson Tide opened the 2021-22 campaign with two impressive wins over Louisiana Tech and South Dakota State, but its standing in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll didn’t change after a 2-0 start. The latest poll was released Monday, and UA remained at No. 14.

Alabama entered the year ranked 14th in the AP Preseason Top 25 Poll, which marked the first time since 2011 that the Tide opened a season ranked (No. 19 that year). It was also the highest preseason ranking for Alabama since beginning the 2006-07 season at No. 11 nationally.

UA was one of six SEC teams to make the top 25, along with Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida. Four of the Crimson Tide’s non-conference opponents were also ranked in Gonzaga, Baylor, Memphis and Houston. Alabama could also face Kansas in Orlando.

---