A pair of Tennessee basketball players are out for the Vols’ season opener against Gardner-Webb on Monday night, a Tennessee spokesperson confirmed to RTI.
Freshman guard Bishop Boswell is out while in concussion protocol and super senior forward Darlinstone Dubar is out due to a personal matter.
Neither absence comes as a major surprise as both players missed Tennessee’s Thursday practice that was open to the media while dealing with the same situations. Dubar was at Tennessee’s practice but was not dressed out while he deals with the personal matter.
Tennessee has dealt with a number injuries this preseason including sophomore big man JP Estrella who was hampered with a foot injury for much of the summer and early fall. Estralla could be on a minutes restriction against Gardner-Webb as he deals with a right ankle injury.
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Boswell is the lone true freshman on scholarship on Tennessee’s roster and will try to earn playing time as Zakai Zeigler’s backup this season. However, Boswell played just three minutes in Tennessee’s exhibition loss against Indiana.
Dubar is one of Tennessee’s four incoming transfers this offseason. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 17.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season while shooting 40% from three-point range. But like Boswell, Dubar’s role is very much in question entering the season.
The Charlotte native played just five minutes in Tennessee’s exhibition game against Indiana as he battles Cade Phillips for playing time as the Vols’ backup four-man.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Garder-Webb is at 7 p.m. ET on Monday night. Andy Brock, Steve Hamer and Sarah Detwiler are on the call for the SEC Network+.
Ahead of tipoff, read up on the Tennessee basketball team with five things I think I know, five question and three bold predictions about Rick Barnes’ 10th Volunteer team.
