The North Carolina Tar Heels will look for revenge on Wednesday night, facing off against Alabama just months after the Crimson Tide ended their 2024 NCAA Tournament run in the Sweet 16.
The game will be one of the headliners in the ACC/SEC Challenge with the Crimson Tide heading to Chapel Hill for the top 25 showdown. But ahead of that game, Alabama head coach Nate Oats provided a key injury update to two key players.
Oats told reporters that graduate guard Latrell Wrightsell is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles. The guard was averaging 11.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 25.8 minutes per game this season. He was Alabama’s leading three-point shooter through eight games as well.
In addition to Wrightsell, it’s also highly doubtful that Chris Youngblood will play either in the game. The transfer from South Florida has yet to play a game this season after having surgery on his ankle.
Oats was hopeful that Youngblood would play this week but it appears as if he needs some more time.
Alabama’s Chris Youngblood (ankle) is “highly doubtful” to play on Wednesday against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, per Nate Oats.
Transfer from South Florida who averaged 15.3 PPG last season. https://t.co/umegCOR7zZ
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 3, 2024
Alabama is coming off a tough loss to Oregon in Las Vegas over the weekend while UNC is fresh off a 1-2 showing in the Maui Invitational, losing two straight games.
The Tar Heels beat Tennessee in their first ACC/SEC Challenge game a year ago in the Dean Dome. But they will have their hands full with Alabama this Wednesday in what should be an awesome environment.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : Alabama likely to be without two key players vs. UNC basketball
