Tennessee basketball is getting a bit healthier at just the right time. Guards Troy Henderson and Amaree Abram are officially off the injury report and will be available when the Vols head into Rupp Arena for a Saturday night showdown against Kentucky.
Abram, who missed the Ole Miss game with flu-like symptoms, returned to practice on Friday. He didn’t go full-speed in five-on-five drills, but his availability is still a positive sign for Tennessee’s backcourt depth.
The 6-foot-3 Louisiana Tech transfer has had a quiet role lately, especially since SEC play began. He’s started three games this season, but with Bishop Boswell and Amari Evans stepping up as the primary two-guards, Abram has seen his minutes shrink.
In fact, he logged just 20 minutes total in the four games prior to the Ole Miss matchup. Still, he’s been a consistent presence, appearing in every SEC game so far.
As for Henderson, his path has been a bit more up-and-down. The freshman guard missed the Alabama and Georgia games with a left shoulder injury but made his return against Auburn.
He only played a minute in that one, but followed it up with eight minutes and three points against Ole Miss. Then came a bit of a scare-he got shaken up during Friday’s practice, which briefly put his status in question.
But he’s good to go, and that’s big for Tennessee’s point guard rotation.
Henderson has quietly taken over the backup point guard role from Ethan Burg, and while his season averages-2.4 points and 1.5 assists in 9.5 minutes per game-don’t jump off the page, his recent uptick in minutes suggests the staff trusts him in key moments.
Both Henderson and Abram have essentially been Tennessee’s eighth and ninth men since SEC play began. They’re not logging heavy minutes like Evans, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, or Boswell, but they’ve been important depth pieces, especially in a physical conference like the SEC where foul trouble and fatigue are weekly realities.
Tennessee rolls into Lexington riding a four-game win streak, bouncing back strong after their Jan. 17 loss to Kentucky. The Vols have looked sharp, especially in tough road wins at Alabama and Georgia, and followed those up with home victories over Auburn and Ole Miss.
Kentucky, meanwhile, has found its rhythm. After dropping their first two conference games, the Wildcats have won seven of their last eight and are coming off their most impressive win of the season-a road victory at Arkansas.
The oddsmakers have this one tight. Kentucky opened as a 1.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 144.5. KenPom sees it going down to the wire, projecting a 73-72 win for the Wildcats.
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena.
ESPN will have the call with Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes on the broadcast. With both teams surging and postseason positioning starting to take shape, Saturday night in Lexington is shaping up to be must-watch basketball.