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Alabama basketball faced TCU in secret scrimmage: What we learned – Tuscaloosa Magazine
Sam Walters led Alabama basketball with 29 points in a secret scrimmage vs. TCU on Sunday that resulted in an 85-81 loss in Birmingham, according to a box score provided to The Tuscaloosa News from Sunday.
Walters did the most damage from beyond the arc, where he went 7-for-12. He shot all but one of Alabama’s 3-pointers.
Aaron Estrada scored 19 while Grant Nelson tallied 13 points. Jarin Stevenson also reached double digits with 10 points.
Jameer Nelson Jr. led the way for TCU with 25 points. JaKobe Coles scored 18 while two TCU players scored 14.
The biggest lead Alabama held came with 4:01 left in the second half. The Crimson Tide was up by six.
There were four lead changes and six times Alabama and TCU were tied. The Crimson Tide spent only 3:07 with the lead while TCU had the lead for 34:33.
Field goals: 25-for-58 (43.1%)
3-point field goals: 8-for-25 (32%)
Free-throws: 23-for-29 (79.3%)
Blocks: 2
Fouls: 21
Assists: 12
Turnovers: 12
Steals: 6
Offensive rebounds: 8
Defensive rebounds: 27
Total rebounds: 35
Field goals: 27-for-56 (48.2%)
3-point field goals: 9-for-21 (42.9%)
Free-throws: 22-for-26 (84.6%)
Blocks: 3
Fouls: 24
Assists: 15
Turnovers: 13
Steals: 8
Offensive rebounds: 4
Defensive rebounds: 29
Total rebounds: 33
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Grant Nelson: Minutes: 36:20; FG: 3-for-6; 3FG: 0-for-2; FT: 7-for-8; 9 rebounds; 4 fouls; 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 blocks, 13 points.
Rylan Griffen: Minutes: 14:44; FG: 0-for-7; 3FG: 0-for-5; FT: 2-for-2; 3 rebounds; 3 fouls; 2 assists, 3 turnovers, 2 points.
Jarin Stevenson: Minutes: 30:57; FG: 2-for-3; 3FG: 1-for-2; FT: 5-for-6; 5 rebounds; 4 fouls; 2 assists, 0 turnovers, 1 steal, 10 points.
Nick Pringle: Minutes: 21:06; FG: 3-for-4; 3FG: 0-for-0; FT: 2-for-4; 5 rebounds; 3 fouls; 0 assists, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 8 points.
Aaron Estrada: Minutes: 36:17; FG: 7-for-16; 3FG: 0-for-1; FT: 5-for-6; 5 rebounds; 2 fouls; 3 assists, 2 turnovers, 2 steals, 19 points.
Latrell Wrightsell Jr.: Minutes: 26:44; FG: 0-for-5; 3FG: 0-for-2; FT: 0-for-0; 2 rebounds; 2 fouls; 2 assists, 0 turnovers, 1 steal, 0 points.
Sam Walters: Minutes: 28:12; FG: 10-for-16; 3FG: 7-for-12; FT: 2-for-3; 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 0 assists, 2 turnovers, 29 points.
Kris Parker: Minutes: 5:40; FG: 0-for-1; 3FG: 0-for-1; FT: 0-for-0; 1 foul, 0 points.
Did not participate: Mark Sears, Davin Cosby, Mouhamed Dioubate, Mohamed Wague.
It’s a preview, but it’s not a prediction of what’s to come. It’s more so an opportunity to get Alabama players some more work together. And considering several players are dealing with injuries, it’s not a true view of the entire roster.
A season ago, Alabama lost 99-69 vs. TCU in a secret scrimmage before the season. Fast-forward to the season, and the Crimson Tide won the SEC regular-season title as well as the SEC Tournament. Then Alabama went on to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
“I will try to schedule a scrimmage where we get beat again next year,” coach Nate Oats joked during the 2022-23 season.
Alabama will have one more scrimmage vs. Wake Forest in a charity exhibition on Sunday, Oct. 29, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Then the Crimson Tide will open the season against Morehead State on Monday, Nov. 6 at Coleman Coliseum.
Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men’s basketball for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.