Grant Nelson offering consistency Alabama basketball needs to reach Final Four again

Posted by author February 2, 2025 Basketball

Spread the love

Grant Nelson might just be Alabama basketball‘s most reliable roster member heading into the back half of the SEC schedule.

Coach Nate Oats has been harping on crashing the offensive glass, but nine defensive boards for Nelson were just fine, too, in Saturday’s 90-69 thumping of Georgia at Coleman Coliseum.

With more than eight minutes left in the first half, Nelson had already matched a career high with four blocks. He accounted for five of UA’s nine blocked shots vs Georgia.

It was expected that the arrival of Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi and freshman Aiden Sherrell were going to lighten Nelson’s load on defense so that he could excel on offense more. They have done just that, but Nelson has decided to contribute just as much to protecting the rim the same way he did to lead Alabama (19-3, 8-1 SEC) to last season’s Final Four.

“Really every game, my main focus is on the defensive end to stick to our assignment,” Nelson said. “I feel like the offense for us as a team kind of comes naturally.”

Nelson put Alabama’s first point against Georgia on the board on a first free throw attempt, but the Crimson Tide committed a lane violation during the second shot. The early misstep gave a physical group of Bulldogs some early confidence that eventually saw them shave Alabama’s double-digit lead down to five with just about three minutes to halftime.

Alabama went into the locker room up, 39-28, after four Crimson Tide players forced fouls with perfect trips to the free-throw line, including Nelson after he drew a foul from Georgia star freshman Asa Newell on a defensive rebound.

Nelson scored Alabama’s first seven points of the second half and finished 5-for-9 from the field with five with two assists.

Is Grant Nelson the most consistent member of Alabama basketball’s roster?

“I just try to go out there and work as hard as I can,” Nelson said, adding he also aims for winning the hard-hat award for hustle points, but Mo Dioubate makes it “tough.”

“I like the competition between them,” Oats said. “Grant, Mo D are kind of the two who I guess have won it most this year.”

From tip to the buzzer, Nelson had done the little things that a wavering Alabama roster has needed. He came up clutch last season against Georgia when the Bulldogs rallied from a 15-point deficit to trail by three. With fewer than 90 seconds on the clock, Nelson edged Alabama’s lead to six points with a trey.

Against Georgia on Saturday, he made just one 3-pointer, but with 16 points and 10 rebounds recorded his sixth double-double of the season, previously accomplishing the feat against Purdue, Houston, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Kentucky.

Per Oats, Nelson is the only player in the SEC with 16 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks in fewer than 30 minutes.

“I thought Grant’s effort was upstanding,” Oats said. “I think he stood his ground.”

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.