After the Tide lost Trelly for the year, and with the Tide having gone 3-2 in its last five contests in November, staring down a must-win at Chapel Hill, Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats pulled Houston Mallett’s redshirt and began inserting him in the lineup off the bench.

Several commentators (ahem) were fairly critical of the decision, seeing as ‘Bama was looking at Chris Youngblood’s imminent return. Then, when Mallett was only getting 6-8 minutes a night, it started to look even worse.

But when Houston began disappearing entirely from the lineup, the decision looked like a hasty waste of a great utility player.

Next season, Mallett is very capable of taking that role as a do-it-all wingman or SG that players like Estrada and Trelly have filled.

So, where did he go?

Turns out Mallett’s diminished role, then absence, is attributable to an offseason lingering knee injury, one that will keep him out of the lineup again on Saturday after missing the previous contest against USC.

The protracted nature of his health woes may just lead to a medical redshirt for the talented super-senior.

At this point, nearing the half-way mark of the season, a medical redshirt really does seem the best way forward. When he is in the lineup, he is the core group representing Alabama’s seven most effective players. But the Tide is playing well without him, and if any year were one to absorb the loss of a G/SF it’s this one. Next year, however, there is a very good chance he starts.

More importantly, it’s the right move for Mallett’s career. He has pro ambitions that are frankly being wasted with knees on ice. He can’t get the 20-22 minutes a night he deserces this season with both his injuries and the Tide’s depth.

We wish him well — and hope to see him in civvies the rest of the year — and here’s to a healthy, productive starting role next season.

Roll Tide