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Alabama basketball's Grant Nelson feels '100 percent,' talks offseason transformation
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Alabama basketball's Grant Nelson feels '100 percent,' talks offseason transformation
Alabama basketball 's student section could've convinced attendees that McNeese State coach Will Wade was the most wanted man in Coleman Coliseum with their "FBI" taunts alluding to the LSU former's firing.
To NBA scouts in the stands for the 72-64 win , it was forward Grant Nelson.
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Nelson was an All-SEC first team selection for the USA Today Sports Network in the 2024-25 preseason after helping Alabama (3-0) to a historic Final Four appearance averaging 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
The offseason before coming back to Tuscaloosa from his hometown of Devil's Lake, North Dakota, was supposed to be full of excitement. Instead, it saw Nelson suffer an injury that kept him out of practice the "whole summer" according to Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats. When the preseason rolled around, a different injury to his abdomen saw Nelson benched for exhibitions against Wake Forest and Memphis.
Nov 11, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama forward Grant Nelson (4) takes a three point shot against McNeese at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News
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Oats gave the nod for Nelson to operate on a minutes restriction in the season opener against UNC-Asheville. A few days later against Arkansas State, Nelson still looked like a guy that was knocking the rust off.
Nelson, who transferred from North Dakota State ahead of last season, looked shiny and new as he let the Cowboys know the real sheriff on duty was in T-Town on Monday night.
Against McNeese (1-2), Nelson emerged as Alabama's top scorer, a top rebounder and Hard Hat winner with 22 points and eight rebounds with three assists in 27 minutes. He scored 14 of those points in eight minutes of the first half.
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Following Monday's win against McNeese, Nelson told reporters during a news conference he finally "felt 100%," grateful for not only the time, but the depth to sit out early now.
Most wanted man in Coleman Coliseum wasn't Will Wade, but Alabama basketball's Grant Nelson
After Arkansas State, when he registered 12 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal in 27 minutes, Nelson discussed his offseason transformation with media.
"In the summer, a lot of what everybody was emphasizing was getting my body right," Nelson said. "Last year, I wasn't 100% throughout the whole season."
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The timing of his lower leg injury was ill-suited with conference play approaching. Nelson wasn't playing in the position that's true to him, either, often taking over the No. 5 spot to give Alabama the rim protection it lacked.
"My main focus was to strengthen my core," he said. "I mean, the weight just came in the weight room naturally. I just pretty much talked with our nutritionist about how I can still feel good, move good and be the best I possibly can."
Nelson still has his lurching 6-foot-11 frame, but he fills it out a little bit better this season after taking criticism from broadcasters for lacking "bulk" last year. He weighed in at 230 pounds.
"This was a game, if he doesn't play as well as he did, we may not have won the game," Oats said.
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Alabama and Nelson next face their first ranked opponent in No. 12 Purdue in the Crimson Tide's first road game of the season. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. CT Friday.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball's Grant Nelson feels '100 percent' after McNeese State
