Nick Pringle not with Alabama on team flight to NCAA Tournament, spotted traveling commercial
Alabama center Nick Pringle did not travel with the rest of the team Tuesday to Spokane, Wash., for the team’s first-round NCAA Tournament game.
Instead, Pringle traveled there on his own flight Thursday, spotted by The Next Round on a commercial trip. TNR posted a photo of Pringle walking up a breezeway in the airport. Check it out below.
BOL’s Charlie Potter noted the absence on the flight, informing the site’s subscribers about the developing situation.
“We’re aware of the Nick Pringle situation,” Potter wrote on BOL. “It’s our understanding that, as of now, he did not make the flight to Washington. We’re double-checking to see if he’s expected to catch another flight or what is next here, and are still waiting to hear back from UA on the matter. We’ll let you guys know as soon as we hear more.”
The travel situation is notable because Pringle has twice been suspended this season for conduct detrimental to the team.
He missed one game on Dec. 4 for conduct detrimental to the team, then was suspended again during SEC play in late January and early February. Pringle missed two games the second time around, failing to appear in the Georgia and Mississippi State contests.
Coach Nate Oats commented on his status at the time.
“He’s currently suspended,” Oats said. “He’s got to decide whether he wants to be a part of this program or not with some of his decisions and how he conducts himself. Nothing bad off the court or anything like that, just in practice, in games and we’ll see where it goes. We’ll meet when I get back.”
Nick Pringle averages 6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, soaking up 17.8 minutes per contest.
Alabama dealing with a couple injuries
One thing that limited Alabama, especially defensively, in the SEC Tournament was a pair of injuries to guards Latrell Wrightsell and Rylan Griffen.
But both should be a little closer to full health in the NCAA Tournament.
“You’re hoping he can step back in and play like he was playing before he went out, but it’s probably unrealistic,” Oats said of Wrightsell. “Hopefully the next time he plays he’ll be able to practice with us all week, get some live reps and be a little bit better, because he’s been pretty good for us all year.”
Griffen averages 11.0 points per game, while Wrightsell averages 9.0.
“Wrightsell’s been a little banged up here over the last month, but he’s been a lot better, too, to be honest with you,” Oats said. “So having a healthy Wrightsell and Griffen will obviously make a difference.”