Aden Holloway’s Alabama Crimson Tide will start their 2026 NCAA Tournament run today against the Hofstra Pride at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa. Alabama had a good run in the regular season.
They finished second in the Southeastern Conference with a 23-9 overall record, including 13-5 in the conference. Despite having a good run this season, the Crimson Tide fell 79-80 to the Ole Miss Rebels in the first game of the SEC Tournament.
The Crimson Tide has a good chance for redemption in March Madness, and the team appears to be ready for the matchup. However, they will have to go in without their star guard, the 21-year-old Aden Holloway.
It’s not an injury that’s keeping Holloway away from the game today. He was arrested on Monday and is facing two felony drug charges, as per Tuscaloosa County police.
Stephanie Taylor, spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa County police, said that after searching a residence near Alabama’s campus, the police “recovered more than a pound of marijuana, paraphernalia, and cash.”
He will be charged with first-degree possession of marijuana-not for personal use, and failure to affix a tax stamp. Holloway was released following a $5000 bond, but that won’t be the end of his problems.
The charges against him carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $15k fine. Holloway was having a good season, putting up his career-best numbers. He was averaging 16.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting over 48% from the field and 43% from the three-point line.
It’s a massive setback for the Crimson Tide, and they will have to figure out a way to fill the 16-point gap that Holloway’s absence will create.
Nate Oats on Aden Holloway’s Possible Return
Holloway was suspended by the program amid the ongoing investigation. He did not travel to Tampa with the team for the Hofstra Pride matchup. Holloway and the program are now waiting for the student conduct appeal next week.
Head coach Nate Oats said that if Holloway wins the appeal, he might join his team for the rest of the tournament, if they advance.
“You know what, I’m not sure where that’s all going to go,” Oats said. “We’ll kind of address things as they come up. But for right now, the team is just preparing to play with who’s at practice, and he’s obviously not there. We’ll prepare to play without him and address that matter if it comes up.”
Oats said that Holloway has a close relationship with his coaches and teammates. He needs to know that they still love him and care for him, especially at such a difficult time. He made it clear that the team will not ignore him when he needs their support.
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