No Tennessee basketball players, besides JP Estrella, are on the Vols’ injury report ahead of their matchup at Texas on Saturday evening. Sophomore forward Cade Phillips is the only Tennessee player that would have potentially joined Estrella on the injury report.
Estrella is out for the season after having foot injury in late November after playing in just three games earlier this season.
Phillips suffered a left shoulder injury in the second half of Tennessee’s SEC opening win over Arkansas last Saturday. He was questionable ahead of the Vols’ loss at Florida before being ruled available. Phillips played just three minutes in the blowout loss due to the injury and the fact that he picked up two quick fouls.
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“The other night he wasn’t — I could tell by watching the film after the game — he wasn’t the same in terms of like the one lob he went up for, he didn’t even raise his left arm,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said of Phillips. “He went up and tried to get it one-handed, which that’s one reason he didn’t play more because — Cade’s tough. He’s never gonna complain. He’s just not. But I could tell he wasn’t normally what he is.”
Through 15 games this season, Phillips is averaging 6.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game off the bench. The sophomore forward is the Vols’ first big man off the bench and has been one of Tennessee’s most improved players this season.
Phillips was a partial participant in Tennessee basketball’s practice open to the media on Thursday afternoon.
If the backup forward is limited again, Tennessee will be severely thin in the front court. Felix Okpara and Igor Milicic are the only other players available to play at the five-spot while Jahmai Mashack and Darlinstone Dubar would see extended time at the four-spot.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Texas is at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday night at the Mood Center. ESPN is broadcasting the matchup.
