Tennessee will be without one of its most reliable frontcourt anchors Saturday night, as senior forward Felix Okpara has officially been ruled out for the Vols’ clash with Auburn due to a left calf injury.
Okpara was listed as a game-time decision heading into the matchup, but any lingering hope was dashed when he didn’t participate in pregame warmups and appeared in street clothes as the team emerged from the locker room. For a player as consistent as Okpara, both in presence and production, this is a significant absence.
This marks just the second missed game of Okpara’s college career-and his first since transferring to Tennessee. The 6-foot-11 rim protector had started 64 consecutive games, including all 58 since arriving in Knoxville. The only prior absence came back in December 2023 during his time at Ohio State, when illness kept him sidelined.
Okpara’s impact goes well beyond the box score. He’s averaging 6.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game this season, while shooting an efficient 58% from the field.
His offensive game is built around high-percentage finishes-177 of his 324 career made field goals are dunks, a testament to his vertical presence and ability to finish around the rim. On the defensive end, he’s a true disruptor.
His 222 career blocks rank third among all active Division I players, and his timing and instincts have anchored Tennessee’s interior defense all season long.
While losing Okpara is a blow, Tennessee does get some encouraging news on the injury front. Junior forward Jaylen Carey and freshman point guard Troy Henderson are both expected to be available, barring any late setbacks.
Carey has been managing a left leg issue over the past week, while Henderson is set to return after missing the last two games with a left shoulder injury. Both were listed as probable on Friday’s availability report and are trending toward suiting up.
Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET, with ESPN carrying the broadcast. Dave Neal will be on the call alongside former Vol and current analyst Dane Bradshaw.
With Okpara out, Tennessee will need to lean on its depth in the frontcourt and get creative defensively against a tough Auburn squad. But the return of Carey and Henderson could help stabilize the rotation and provide some much-needed balance on both ends of the floor.