The No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers have listed freshman center Felix Okpara on the injury report for Saturday’s highly anticipated matchup against the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies.
According to the injury report, Okpara is listed as “questionable” with a left ankle injury. The 6-foot-11 center has been a key contributor off the bench for the Vols, averaging 2.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game.
Okpara’s injury is a concern for the Vols, who are already dealing with injuries to several key players. Junior guard Josiah-Jordan James has been dealing with a left ankle injury of his own, and senior forward Olivier Nkamhoua has been battling a knee injury.
Despite the injuries, the Vols have been able to maintain their high level of play, thanks in large part to the emergence of freshman guard Chaz Lanier. Lanier has been a sparkplug off the bench for Tennessee, averaging 10.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
The Vols will need all hands on deck on Saturday, as they face off against a talented Texas A&M team. The Aggies are led by senior guard Wade Taylor IV, who is averaging 16.5 points and 3.5 assists per game.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes is preparing his team for a tough matchup, regardless of Okpara’s status.
“Texas A&M is a very talented team, and they’re well-coached,” Barnes said. “We’ll need to be at our best on Saturday, regardless of who’s available to play.”
The Vols and Aggies are set to tip off at 2:00 PM ET on Saturday at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas. The game will be televised on ESPN.
_Injury Report:_
– Felix Okpara (left ankle) – Questionable
– Josiah-Jordan James (left ankle) – Probable
– Olivier Nkamhoua (knee) – Probable
_Tennessee’s Depth Chart:_
– Starting Five:
– Santiago Vescovi (G)
– Zakai Zeigler (G)
– Chaz Lanier (G)
– Olivier Nkamhoua (F)
– Jonas Aidoo (C)
– Bench:
– Josiah-Jordan James (G)
– Felix Okpara (C)
– Tobe Awaka (F)
– Jahmai Mashack (G)
The Vols will look to keep their winning streak alive on Saturday, despite the uncertainty surrounding Okpara’s status. A win over the Aggies would be a significant statement for Tennessee, and would help to solidify their position in the top 10.
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