Darlinstone Dubar remains questionable for Tennessee basketball as it heads into its first major nonconference game.
The Vols guard has been dealing with a personal matter, which has had the Hofstra transfer sidelined as the No. 12 Vols (1-0) prepare to play at Louisville (1-0) on Saturday (noon ET, ACC Network). Bishop Boswell is trending toward returning from concussion protocol, which kept the freshman guard out in the season opener against Gardner-Webb on Monday.
“Still kind of trying to work through things, get those guys back but do it at their own speed,” assistant coach Rod Clark said Friday. “I know that both of them are really trying to get back as soon as possible. We are just trying to be supportive of them and get them back in a timely manner.”
Dubar and Boswell did not play in Tennessee’s 80-64 win against Gardner-Webb.
Coach Rick Barnes said after the opener that Dubar’s return timeline is up to the player. Barnes simply wants to make sure that Dubar feels supported as he handles the personal matter. Dubar continues to be with the Vols.
“We just want to make sure that he knows we are there for him and everyone around has been,” Barnes said Monday. “Tough time for him just personally. I think he has dealt with it for a while. Love him to death and we just miss him. It is up to him. It is all on his time.”
DUBAR: What Rick Barnes said about Darlinstone Dubar’s absence from Tennessee basketball
Felix Okpara, J.P. Estrella working through injuries
Junior forward Felix Okpara and sophomore forward J.P. Estrella are playing through injuries. Okpara and Estrella are UT’s primary two post players.
Okpara is dealing with a hip pointer, Barnes said Monday. Estrella has an ankle injury which was expected to keep him out against Gardner-Webb, but he made the late decision to play through it after not going through shootaround.
“They had a really good practice yesterday,” Clark said. “The day off really helped them.”
Okpara transferred to Tennessee from Ohio State, where he…
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Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-11-08 17:13:00
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