University of Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said the Crimson Tide was ready to head to Maryland on Wednesday even though it had received “no update” on the status of freshman guard Collin Sexton from the NCAA.
UA opens the 2017-18 season with a neutral site game against Memphis in Annapolis, Md., on Friday but is awaiting word on its petition to reinstate Sexton’s eligibility. Johnson also had no comment on whether Sexton would accompany the team to Maryland in anticipation of a favorable ruling on Thursday or Friday, an option that UA has considered.
“When we have an update, I will give it to you guys,” Johnson said.
Earlier in a Wednesday media session, Crimson Tide point guard Dazon Ingram noted that UA had been practicing as if Sexton would be available, but quickly added that “practice” since UA declared Sexton ineligible had consisted of only one walk through.
Johnson also said that injured players Braxton Key, Riley Norris and Ar’Mond Davis would be out, indicating that Key would be out for around four weeks after surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee and that Norris might be back when Alabama plays at the Barclay’s Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y., in two weeks.
Johnson added that Alabama was still optimistic going into the opener with Memphis.
“Whether we are successful or not, it won’t be for a lack of effort,” he said. “We still have a lot of versatility.
“I come from an environment (in the NBA) where you play over 100 games a year. In that environment, you never know who’s going to be available to play from game to game. So from that standpoint, this doesn’t faze us.”
Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil@tidesports.com or 205-722-0225.
