Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee basketball listed a pair of guards on the SEC Availability Report Friday night ahead of its rivalry matchup against Kentucky. Both Amaree Abram (flu-like symptoms) and Troy Henderson (left shoulder) are “questionable” for the matchup against Kentucky.
Abram missed the Vols’ matchup against Ole Miss due to illness. It was the first game that the transfer shooting guard has missed this season.
The 6-foot-3 shooting guard has started three games for Tennessee this 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.
Henderson missed both the Alabama and Georgia games with the left shoulder injury before returning against Auburn. The freshman guard played just one minute against Auburn before scoring three points in eight minutes of action against Ole Miss.
The 6-foot-1 guard is back on the injury report after getting shaken up during Tennessee’s Friday practice. Henderson is averaging 2.4 points and 1.5 assists in 9.5 minutes per game this season. His role has fluctuated this season but increased in recent weeks with him taking the reigns of the backup point guard job from Ethan Burg.
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Henderson and Abram have effectively been Tennessee’s eighth and ninth men since the start of SEC play though they have played significantly less minutes than Amari Evans, Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Bishop Boswell in the front court.
If the duo are unavailable against Kentucky, the top trio could play more minutes or Burg could play a few minutes. Burg’s played just two minutes of the Vols’ last four games.
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.