Former Alabama guard Rylan Griffen had a chance to fulfill the ultimate villain origin story when he let go of what would have been a game-tying buzzer beater as time expired Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa.
“He had a great look,” Texas A&M coach Bucky McMillan said.
Instead, the shot bounced harmlessly off the rim and the Alabama faithful exploded into cheers. The Crimson Tide narrowly escaped with a 100-97 victory.
Despite missing his final attempt, Griffen made many more throughout the game. He scored 17 points (a season high in SEC play), pulled down six rebounds and dished out a pair of assists in a losing effort.
The senior from Dallas spent two years at Alabama and was a key piece of the program’s first ever run to the Final Four in 2024. He averaged 11.4 points per game on 45.4% shooting during that 2024 season.
Despite all of his success in crimson, fans inside Coleman Coliseum did not welcome the transfer with open arms. He was met with a shower of boos every time he touched the ball.
One student spectator was not a fan of his peers’ reception of the visitor.
“I think it was uncalled for,” said Chad Brown, an operations and sports management major. “He benefited our team a lot in previous years.”
Griffen transferred away from Alabama after the Final Four in order to pursue an opportunity at Kansas. He, like the team as a whole, struggled for a large portion of the year, leading him to hit the portal for a second time.
While he did reportedly visit Alabama during the 2025 cycle, he ultimately chose to return to his home state and play for McMillan and Texas A&M.
Despite the loss against his former team, Griffen appears to have hit his stride in College Station, as he averages 11.2 PPG and has shot at a 49.6% clip.
“He loves playing basketball,” Oats said before the game. “He’s having a lot of fun. You can tell he’s had fun there. He’s shooting the three-ball really well for him, which he shot well for us here.”
