Tennessee updates Cade Phillips injury status for Florida game

Tennessee Basketball sophomore forward Cade Phillips will be available for Tuesday night’s game at Florida. The other striker was removed from the pre-match injury report after initially being listed as Doubtful Monday night.

Phillips appeared to injure his left shoulder in the second half of Saturday’s 76-52 win over Arkansas at the Food City Center. He wore a brace on his left shoulder during practice Monday morning, doing individual work on the sideline with members of the coaching staff.

The injury occurred when Phillips went after a loose ball against the Razorbacks on Saturday. He briefly entered the tunnel by the Tennessee bench before rejoining his teammates for a timeout.

no. 1 Tennessee at No. 8 Florida, Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2

No. 1 Tennessee (14-0, 1-0 SEC) and no. 8 Florida (13-1, 0-1) is scheduled for a 7 Eastern Time start on ESPN2 at Exactech Arena in Gainesville. The Gators listed all available players on Monday night’s injury report.

Head coach Rick Barnes said after the Arkansas game that Phillips could have played more in the second half after being hurt, but the scoring didn’t make it necessary.

“He was available if we needed him,” Barnes said during his postgame press conference. “The situation just didn’t call for it.”

Phillips is averaging 6.5 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game this season. He played 11 minutes against Arkansas — his lowest usage since playing seven minutes against Virginia in November — and finished with two points and six rebounds off the bench.

Several volumes have to do with injuries

The season has been a battle of injuries so far, despite Tennessee’s undefeated 14-0 record matching its best start in program history.

The Vols lost the sophomore power forward JP Estrella for season-ending foot surgery at the end of November. Sophomore wing Cameron Carr needed thumb surgery after he was injured against Austin Peay on Nov. 17, then left the program abruptly on Dec. 23, electing to transfer.

Freshman guard Bishop Boswell missed the Dec. 23 Middle Tennessee State game after injuring his shoulder against Western Carolina on Dec. 17. He returned against Norfolk State on Dec. 31, but has played just four minutes in the past two games.

Both Boswell and transfer wing Darlingstone Dubar have missed one game each this season while in concussion protocol.

Older guard Jahmai Mashack has been playing with two fingers taped together on his left hand after being injured while going after a loose ball in the first half against Middle Tennessee State.

Tennessee entered the season with 11 scholarship players out of a possible 13. The Vols are down to nine scholarship players available after Carr’s departure and Estrella’s season-ending injury.