JP Estrella ‘Expected To Be Available’ For Tennessee Basketball Against Illinois

Tennessee basketball’s JP Estrella is going through pregame warmups and is expected to be available for the Vols’ Saturday night against Illinois. Estrella is returning to the fold after missing the Vols’ game against Syracuse earlier this week with a right ankle injury.

Estrella is currently battling a right ankle injury that he suffered in Tennessee’s loss against Kansas in the Players Era Festival. The sophomore returned to the court in the Kansas game but the injury limited him in practice afterwards and sidelined him for the Syracuse game.

The 6-foot-11 center returned to Tennessee’s Friday practice but was just a limited participant. Estrella did some five-on-five work getting up and down the court, but did not do as much as the rest of his teammates. He spent the rest of practice doing individual work off to the side.

Estrella has battled a number of injuries throughout his Tennessee career and early this season. The redshirt sophomore center missed Tennessee’s win over Tennessee State with a left knee bone bruise. The talented big man was able to return from the knee injury after missing just one game.

Tennessee is 7-2 on the young season but has lost each of its last two games. The Vols lost two consecutive games just once last year and is looking to get back on the right track against a strong Illinois team. Tennessee has faced and defeated Illinois each of the last two seasons.

The Vols’ front court is looking to bounce back from a poor showing at Syracuse on Tuesday night. Jaylen Carey was great, going for a career-high 22 points to go along with nine rebounds, but Felix Okpara and Cade Phillips turned in unusually poor performances in the loss.