TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tennessee forward Jaylen Carey went down holding his left knee with 10:27 remaining in the Vols’ 79-73 win over Alabama Saturday night. He was on the ground for nine seconds before the game’s next stoppage and Tennessee’s medical team helped him off the court.
Carey quickly went to the tunnel and did not return to the game or the Tennessee bench for the rest of the game. Rick Barnes addressed the injury postgame.
“I think he might have hyper-extended it,” Barnes said. “They told me he was in the back running in case we needed him, but I think that’s what it was. He planted it pretty hard. Pretty good collision right there.”
Carey has started two games but mostly come off the bench for Tennessee this season. The junior entered the game averaging 9.2 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds per game. Before exiting with the injury, Carey totaled two points on one field goal attempt and five rebounds.
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Tennessee has an abundance of depth in the front court but that has been tested this season. Junior Cade Phillips is out for the year after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in December. If Carey misses time, that leaves Felix Okpara, JP Estrella and DeWayne Brown as Tennessee’s front line.
Estrella started for the first time in his career against Alabama, totaling six points and five rebounds. Brown has started for much of the year but come off the bench the last two games.
Tennessee could also utilize a smaller lineup with Ament at the power forward spot, something they have done sporadically this season and a bit more as of late.
The Vols are back in action in the midweek when they travel to Athens to face No. 21 Georgia. Tennessee’s win over Alabama was its first road victory of the season and they’re looking to make it two straight at Georgia.
