Tennessee shooting guard Santiago Vescovi is back in Knoxville and with his teammates after a six day hiatus. Vescovi got back to Knoxville on Wednesday but since Tennessee didn’t practice the day after its exhibition win over Lenoir-Rhyne, Thursday afternoon’s practice was his first one back with the team.
“We didn’t practice yesterday, so today will be his first day back to practice,” associate head coach Justin Gainey said before Thursday’s practice. “But I don’t anticipate, I mean, this is year five for Santi and he’s on autopilot right now, like from a sense of he knows what to do, what to expect, what the standard is. So I expect it to seamlessly flow— his transition.”
Vescovi spent just under a week in Uruguay with his family due to his grandmother being sick. The Preseason First Team All-SEC guard missed both the Vols’ exhibition wins over Michigan State and Lenoir-Rhyne.
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“Santi won’t (be available against MSU),” Barnes said last week. “His grandmother is not doing well. He’s gonna leave tomorrow to go back home. And she’s very, very ill right now and he’d like to be with his family. So he’s leaving tomorrow to go back to Uruguay.”
The Montevideo, Uruguay native landed on both the Media and Coaches Preseason First Team All-SEC after strong junior and senior seasons.
A season ago, Vescovi averaged 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Shooting 37% from three-point range, Vescovi is the SEC’s top returning perimeter shooter.
Tennessee opens up its 2023-24 season on Nov. 6 against Tennessee Tech at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
