Creighton coach Greg McDermott has been eagerly anticipating the comeback of Alabama basketball guard Chris Youngblood. After being sidelined due to an ankle injury for the entire season thus far, the USF transfer has now been cleared to play with certain minutes restrictions for Saturday's game. Coach Nate Oats informed The Field of 68 a day earlier that Alabama (7 - 2) would gradually bring him back into action. At the pregame availability for the Bluejays, McDermott expressed his belief that Youngblood could potentially become one of Alabama's standout players who have yet to take the court.

Why Chris Youngblood Matters

Early Matchups and Growth

McDermott reminisced about the times when Creighton (7 - 3) faced Youngblood in earlier matchups during his early days at Kennesaw State. Before rising to become one of the country's top 3 - point shooters at South Florida last season, where he averaged a team - best 15.3 points per game, Youngblood had already shown potential. As a freshman, he drained three 3 - pointers and scored second on the team for Kennesaw State against Creighton. In his sophomore appearance, although Kennesaw State had a halftime lead initially, Marcus Zegarowski led Creighton to a 7 - point victory. Youngblood played 35 minutes but scored only seven points, yet he excelled on the boards with seven rebounds.

Impact as a Leader

Oats spoke highly of Youngblood, commending his veteran status and leadership. "He's been a great leader whether he's been on or off the floor," Oats said. "I love having him in the program. Even when he hasn't been able to play, he makes everybody better." This shows Youngblood's influence beyond his on - court performance.

New Weapon for Alabama

Last season, Alabama basketball fell 85 - 82 to Creighton. But on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT in Coleman Coliseum, Alabama will have a new weapon from the arc. Youngblood's return adds a different dimension to the team's offense and could potentially turn the tide in their favor.Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.