Alabama preparing to play without Aden Holloway after arrest, Nate Oats says

TAMPA, Fla. — Alabama coach Nate Oats reiterated Thursday that the Crimson Tide are preparing to play without guard Aden Holloway, who was arrested Monday on a felony drug charge. Oats said he does not know if or when Holloway could return later in the NCAA Tournament.

“For right now, the team’s just preparing to play with who’s at practice, and he’s obviously not there,” Oats said. “We’ll prepare to play without him and address that matter if it comes up.”

Holloway was arrested Monday on a first-degree felony complaint of marijuana possession, according to a spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Police Department. The school said that Holloway — Alabama’s No. 2 scorer — had been removed from campus as the university investigated.

Oats said Alabama is equipped to handle absences because of the depth it has built through its up-tempo pace and the various injuries the roster has withstood throughout the season.

Don’t expect fourth-seeded Alabama to change its style of play against Hofstra or (potentially) beyond. The Tide still have one of the SEC’s top guards, Labaron Philon Jr., and teammates talked up Jalil Bethea’s preparation during a news conference Thursday. Bethea is expected to take some of Holloway’s minutes.

Oats said he has remained in contact with Holloway every day since his arrest.

“Now is not the time to ignore a kid that you built a real relationship with,” Oats said. “Now’s the time he needs more love from the adults in his life than at any point.”