Alabama Forward Out for Home Matchup vs. South Carolina

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama will take the court against South Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 14, without versatile forward Bol Bowen, head coach Nate Oats confirmed Friday.

Bowen, who has started 11 of the 20 games he has appeared in this season, has been battling a leg injury originally suffered against Florida. After missing the Texas A&M contest, he reaggravated the issue versus Auburn and saw reduced minutes in the Crimson Tide’s most recent outing against Ole Miss.

“He’s just trying to tough it out for his teammates,” Oats said during his pre-game press conference. “We sat him out of practice today to try to get him a little better. If he doesn’t feel significantly better tomorrow, my guess is he’ll be listed as questionable or doubtful tonight.”

By the time Alabama released its first SEC-mandated injury report, Bowen had officially been designated “out” for the league’s 12th game of the year.

The sophomore’s absence compounds an already lengthy injury list. Guard Davion Hannah and center Collins Onyejiaka remain sidelined with ongoing medical conditions, while forward Keitenn Bristow is out with a leg issue that has prompted staff discussions about a potential medical redshirt.

Alabama has deployed more than a dozen starting lineups through 24 games, and Oats stressed that getting a healthy rotation is critical to executing the defensive schemes that have become a hallmark of his program.

“You watch the Ole Miss game, Taylor is not 100 percent—he’s not even close,” Oats said. “If we could get Taylor healthy like we got [Latrell] Wrightsell healthy … Taylor’s capable of doing something similar with the talent he’s got.”

The Crimson Tide will look to extend their recent stretch of improved ball movement and unselfish offense when they host the Gamecocks inside Coleman Coliseum for the Valentine’s Day tilt.