Alabama basketball coach Nate Oats isn't guaranteeing the return of injured guard Latrell Wrightsell for the Crimson Tide's NCAA Tournament Final Four game against UConn on Saturday, but he's definitely encouraged by the possibility.

The senior, one of Alabama's best shooters, missed much of the latter part of the season with a head injury suffered in practice. He was removed from UA's second-round win over Grand Canyon with a head injury and has not played since. But Oats believes there's plenty of reason for hope.

"With a head injury, you have to take it serious, you have to keep their long-term health at the forefront. … I think with another week off between games, that gives him more time," Oats said Sunday when the team arrived at the Tuscaloosa airport. "But he's got to pass protocol. You have to make sure he's not at more risk for future head trauma, but I think given another week off, it gives us a real shot that he's got a pretty good chance to play."

Following Alabama's Elite 8 win over Clemson, Wrightsell, who was on the bench for the game, said he would play against the No. 1-seeded Huskies. Although it's not his call to make, his return could be crucial for a Crimson Tide team that will need every possible weapon against the defending national champion Huskies, who've blown out four consecutive NCAA Tournament opponents.

Alabama will be playing in the Final Four for the first time in school history.

Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on Twitter @chasegoodbread.

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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama coach Nate Oats updates Wrightsell's Final Four injury status