Alabama basketball could have forward Grant Nelson back from a knee injury for the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Robert Morris, Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats said Sunday. Nelson was injured during UA’s SEC Tournament quarterfinal game against Florida.

Oats said Nelson will see a specialist on Monday.

“We’re hoping to get Grant back,” Oats said. “He is walking today. Swollen. Hopefully he will be back by the first round”

Nelson started out Saturday’s loss to Florida playing well, scoring nine points including a thundering dunk. He checked out of the game with 3:30 remaining in the first half and never returned to the game.

In his absence, the Crimson Tide played poorly, falling 104-82 after keeping it close in the first half.

“I think the guys coming off the bench, we could do a better job with stepping up,” Mo Dioubate said in Alabama’s locker room after the loss Saturday. “Grant being out, we just try to all fill his shoes even more. I think everyone’s just got to step up, honestly. We gotta bring the big boy drawers. This the time. This the time, man. This our time now.

“So I gotta step up. Everyone else coming off the bench, the starters gotta step up. And we all know what we’ve gotta do, so we’re gonna do that.”

After the game, Oats identified Nelson’s injury as a knee issue. He said he was hopeful the forward would return in time for the beginning of the tournament.

Nelson was a huge part of last season’s run to the Final Four, coming on strong for the Crimson Tide during the NCAA Tournament. He has averaged 11.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this year.

Alabama will face Robert Morris Friday in Cleveland for its first-round game. The Crimson Tide is a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament.