Tennessee shooting guard Santiago Vescovi is returning to the lineup for Tennessee Sunday against No. 13 Maryland. That doesn’t mean the Vols won’t be undermanned, however. Sophomore power forward Jonas Aidoo is out with flu-like symptoms while senior wing Josiah-Jordan James is a game time decision.
Vescovi missed Tennessee’s last two games with a left shoulder sprain that he suffered in the Vols’ win over McNeese State. The First Team All-SEC shooting guard is off to a slow shooting start to the season but is still averaging 12 points, five rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.6 steals per game on the season.
Aidoo is missing his first game of the season due to illness. The sophomore has been a breakout piece for Tennessee this season. The 6-foot-11 forward is averaging 4.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game but his real impact has been on the defensive end of the court.
The North Carolina native is Tennessee’s best rim protector and that’s a major loss against a Maryland team that thrives on interior scoring.
More From RTI: Tennessee Readying For Top 15 Showdown with Maryland
James played in Tennessee’s last two games after missing the four previous with a knee injury that’s plagued him through the offseason to now. The senior wing admitted that the injury is a “game-to-game thing” after returning to the court last week.
The senior’s versatility would be massive for Tennessee against the Terps with Aidoo sidelined and the Vols having only two leaned on big men available.
No. 7 Tennessee enters the matchup 8-1 and winners of seven straight while No. 13 Maryland is 8-1 and coming off its first loss of the season at Wisconsin.
Tip-off between the Vols and Terrapins is set for 4:30 p.m. ET. Jason Benetti and Jim Jackson are on the call for FOX Sports 1.
