DETROIT, Mich. — Tennessee shooting guard Santiago Vescovi will go through warmups with the intention to play in Sunday afternoon’s Elite Eight matchup against Purdue, a UT spokesperson confirmed to RTI.
Vescovi missed his first game of the season in Tennessee’s Sweet 16 win over Creighton on Friday night as he battles the flu. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard met with the media Saturday for the first time all week and said that he was going to try and give it a go but didn’t commit to playing.
“He looked like he had no energy,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said of Vescovi on Saturday. “We hate it for him because he’s been such a huge part of the program and obviously is. I just hope today he feels like he’s got some energy back.”
He’s likely active for Tennessee against Purdue but isn’t in the starting lineup as he recovers from the illness. Vescovi will likely see minutes restrictions even if he does play.
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Junior guards Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey will likely see an increase in minutes even if Vescovi plays against the Boilermakers.
Mashack is starting in Vescovi’s place against Purdue like he did against Creighton and turned in an elite role player performance. He totaled four points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in the win. Gainey played well coming off the bench, scoring seven points on three-of-five shooting from the field.
A two-time All-SEC selection in his career, Vescovi is averaging 6.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game this season. It’s been the worst shooting season of the redshirt senior’s career but he still ranks second on the Vols in assists and third in steals this season.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Purdue is at 2:20 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. CBS is broadcasting the game.
