Alabama basketball drops a spot in this week’s AP poll

Alabama basketball falls just one spot to No. 10 after a loss to Oregon in the Player’s Era Festival title game.

The Tide fell in dramatic fashion, 83-81, when Oregon scored first with 4.4 seconds left. Alabama’s answer, a layup by star forward Grant Nelson that would have sent the game into overtime, came just a fraction of a second too late.

The Player’s Era Festival in Las Vegas offered $1 million in NIL opportunities to each of its eight participants, plus an additional $1 million to the top four finishers.

The Crimson Tide didn’t leave Las Vegas empty-handed, earning an additional $250,000 in zero money for their second-place finish.

Alabama travels to Chapel Hill this Wednesday for the SEC/ACC Challenge hoping to repeat the events of last season’s Sweet Sixteen win over the Tar Heels.

The Crimson Tide likely won’t have the help of guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. after he suffered an apparent leg injury early in the second half against Oregon. Alabama coach Nate Oats gave an update on Wrightsell after the game.

“They’re worried about his Achilles tendon, which obviously wouldn’t be good,” Oats said.

Alabama (6-2) plays No. 20 North Carolina (4-3) on Wednesday night at 6:15 CT on ESPN.