Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell is expected to play in Alabama’s upcoming Sweet 16 game Thursday against No. 1 seed North Carolina after taking an elbow to the head in the Crimson Tide’s win over Grand Canyon on Sunday, head coach Nate Oats said.

“Wrightsell will be able to play with us Thursday,” Oats said in his postgame press conference. “He got elbowed in the head. Had a head injury. He’s had some real bad luck here lately, but we’ll be playing again and he can play with us again on Thursday.”

Oats did not specify anything further other than stating Wrightsell had a head injury.

Wrightsell went down after being hit in the head while defending a Grand Canyon 3-point attempt with 6:36 to play in the first half of Alabma’s eventual 72-61 win. He lay on the floor for several minutes before trainers helped him up and took him back to the Alabama locker room. He was able to walk on his power.

An Alabama spokesperson quickly confirmed it was a head injury and Wrightsell would not return to the game.

Wrigthsell missed four games earlier this season with a concussion and did not practice Saturday after he was hit in the head during Alabama’s win over Charleston on Friday.

With a few days to rest before a Thursday game in Los Angeles, Oats expects Wrightsell to be ready to play.

Wrightsell had two points in the 11 minutes he played against Grand Canyon. His teammates said they saw Wrightsell in the locker room at halftime and determined they would win the game for him.

They did.

Wrightsell is averaging 9.3 points per game this season.

Matt Cohen covers sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]