Tennessee center Felix Okpara was a partial participant in the Vols’ Friday practice ahead of their matchup against rival Kentucky. Okpara worked to the side early in Tennessee’s practice before joining the team for some five-on-five work later in practice.
Barnes did not provide any significant update on Okpara’s status ahead of Friday’s practice but did say that Okpara did not practice Thursday.
Okpara has missed Tennessee’s last two games due to a “left calf” injury that he suffered in the Vols’ win at Georgia. The senior center practiced last Friday ahead of the Auburn game and was not on the original SEC Availability Report. But Tennessee added him as a “game-time decision” the day of the game and he was unable to go.
“Calf. He has some calf problems,” Barnes said following the Auburn game. “Yesterday, it was after the Georgia game, he really got kicked there or whatever. But it was a calf.”
The 6-foot-11 big man then did not practice on Monday and did not play in Tennessee basketball’s 84-66 win over Ole Miss Tuesday night.
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Okpara started 58 games for Tennessee over the last two seasons, accounting for every game ahead of the Vols matchup against Auburn. This season, Okpara is averaging 6.8 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
In his absence, freshman DeWayne Brown has moved back to the starting lineup beside JP Estrella while Jaylen Carey plays major minutes off the bench. The trio played well against Auburn Saturday combining for 31 points and 17 rebounds in the victory.
They were less effective against Ole Miss but still played relatively well, combining for 21 points and 17 rebounds in the victory over the Rebels.
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.
