Nate Oats updates status of Nick Pringle before trip to Auburn
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama forward Nick Pringle has missed the Crimson Tide’s last two games due to a suspension, and head coach Nate Oats provided an update on his status on Tuesday afternoon while previewing No. 16 Alabama’s road trip to play No. 12 Auburn.
“He’s coming,” Oats said. “He’s been in practice the last two days. He’ll make the trip with us to Auburn. He’s gradually working his way back in.”
Oats followed up later with, “He’ll be available to play. I’m not sure how much he’ll play, but he’ll be available to play.”
This was the second time this season that Pringle has been suspended due to “conduct detrimental to the team.” He also served a 1-game suspension in December and missed the Arkansas State game before returning to the court for the matchup with Purdue. Similarly to the first instance, Oats said it was due to Pringle not upholding the program’s standard.
“He’s got to decide whether he wants to be part of this program or not with some of his decisions, how he conducts himself,” Oats said last week. “Nothing bad off the court or anything like that. It’s just in practice, in games. We’ll see where he goes. We’ll meet when I get back.”
Pringle has played in 19 of the Crimson Tide’s 22 games and been in the starting lineup for 11 of those contests. The 6-foot-10, 230-pound senior is averaging 5.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 70.2 percent from the floor. Over the last three games, against LSU, Georgia and Mississippi State, Grant Nelson has been in the starting lineup at the five.
Alabama will travel to Auburn to play the Tigers on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. CT (ESPN2).
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