Tennessee basketball had just eight scholarship players available in its 82-64 victory over MTSU on Monday night in Knoxville.
The Vols aren’t getting JP Estrella, season-ending foot injury, or Cam Carr, quit the team, back this year. However, Tennessee hopes to get freshman guard Bishop Boswell back soon. Possibly as soon as its matchup against Norfolk State next week.
“He’s been working really hard with his rehab, and we’re hoping maybe (when he) comes back from Christmas,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said on Monday. “I know he’ll do everything he needs to do while he’s there to rehab it and do that. He said he’s feeling better, but like I said, we’re playing the long game with him. We know we’re going to need him and once we get into SEC play, it’s really up to him once he gets comfortable.”
Boswell is working back from a right shoulder injury that he suffered playing ball screen defense in Tennessee’s win over Western Carolina last week. The Vols win over MTSU was the first game that the guard has missed due to injury this season.
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound freshman guard has been a fringe rotational player this season. He’s played in nine games this season and is averaging 0.6 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 3.9 minutes per game. Boswell’s most notable performance of the season came against Illinois when he played six solid minutes in the second half while Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier were battling foul trouble.
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Boswell came to Tennessee as a combo guard but has the size and physicality to play on the wing. Carr’s departure creates a major opportunity for Boswell.
“Bishop has made great strides,” Barnes said. “He’s made great strides, and I hate it for them, but he’ll come back stronger. His mental toughness and just his competitive spirit is something that, again, it’s going to serve him well. He’s a loyal kid. He wants to get it done and he’ll come back strong. There is no doubt that Bishop is going to come back and be a big part of it.”
Tennessee is back in action on Dec. 31 against Norfolk State and they could potentially have Boswell back in the fold by then. The more important date to watch for is Jan. 4 when Tennessee opens up SEC play against Arkansas in Knoxville.
