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The Tuscaloosa News
Nate Oats says redshirt 'still' in talks for Alabama basketball's Houston Mallette
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Nate Oats says redshirt 'still' in talks for Alabama basketball's Houston Mallette
Houston Mallette's future with Alabama basketball is still in the air.
On Friday, coach Nate Oats said that the conversation about the Pepperdine transfer taking another medical redshirt continues.
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"The halfway point is gone," Oats said. "For him [Mallette] only to play half the conference games, I don't know if that's fair to him, to be honest with you."
Dec 22, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Houston Mallette (95) shoots from the three point line against Kent State Golden Flashes center Cli'Ron Hornbeak (42) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images
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The decision isn't "100 percent," according to Oats, but Alabama is definitely leaning towards keeping Mallette on the redshirt.
Mallette made his Crimson Tide debut against UNC before he found himself benched again with "illness" for South Dakota State, and playing limited minutes against Oklahoma and South Carolina prior to Oats ruling him out with knee injury for Texas A&M.
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"If you bring him back, it's got to be your knees are going to 100 percent be healthy," Oats said, adding Mallette's injury was so bad when arrived on campus that he had to sit out for the entire summer.
"It was gradually getting built in the fall, then you come back, there's a setback. We've just got to get him right."
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: Redshirt 'still' in conversation for Alabama basketball transfer
