Tennessee shooting guard Amaree Abram was a limited participant at the Vols’ Friday practice while he recovers from the flu. The senior guard mostly worked off to the side but joined the team for limited five-on-five work at the end of practice.
Abram missed the Vols’ game against Ole Miss due to the illness but head coach Rick Barnes was optimistic that he would return for Friday’s practice.
“He hasn’t been back,” Barnes said. “I think he’s supposed to be back today, but he didn’t practice. Obviously didn’t play (against Ole Miss). He wasn’t around us. We kept him kind of quarantined from everybody.”
The Ole Miss game was the first that Abram has missed this season and it came against his ole team. Abram played for the Rebels during his freshman year, averaging eight points, two rebounds and two assists per game. The Texas native has not had the same success in his senior season at Tennessee and is averaging 3.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 12 minutes per game.
Abram started three games for Tennessee earlier in the season but his role has decreased in SEC play as Bishop Boswell and Amari Evans have separated themselves as the top two-guards on Tennessee’s roster. A Louisiana Tech transfer, Abram has played just 20 total minutes in the Vols’ last four games.While his role hasn’t been big, Abram has still played in every SEC game for Tennessee this season.
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With Abram out against Ole Miss, Amari Evans played 17 minutes while Troy Henderson added eight minutes. The two, as well as starter Bishop Boswell, totaled all of Tennessee’s two-guard minutes until Barnes emptied the bench in the games final minutes.
Tennessee has won four straight games dating back to its loss against Kentucky on Saturday, Jan. 17. The Vols earned impressive road wins at Alabama and Georgia before taking care of business at home against Auburn and Ole Miss.
Kentucky has won seven out of its last eight after dropping its first two games in SEC play. The Wildcats earned their best win of the season last Saturday, knocking off Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Kentucky opened as 1.5-point favorites over Tennessee according to the DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 144.5. KenPom predicts the Wildcats to earn a 73-72 victory. Tipoff from Rupp Arena is at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night. Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes are on the call for ESPN.
