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Tennessee lists Felix Okpara on injury report for Tuesday's game at Kentucky

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•about 13 hours•

GrantRamey

Felix Okpara, Tennessee Basketball | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
(Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images) Feb 8, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Felix Okpara (34) dunks against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Lloyd Noble Center.

Tennessee starting center Felix Okpara was listed as probable on the SEC Injury Report Monday night, ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Kentucky. Okpara, who has started all 24 games for the Vols this season, is dealing with a left ankle issue.

Kentucky listed Jaxson Robinson as out, along with Kerr Kriisa. Point guard Lamont Butler is probable.

Robinson suffered a wrist injury in Kentucky’s win over South Carolina on Saturday. He had 17 points and four rebounds and went 4-for-9 at the 3-point line in Kentucky’s 78-73 win over Tennessee at Food City Center on January 28.

No. 5 Tennessee (20-4, 7-4 SEC) and No. 15 Kentucky (16-7, 5-5) are scheduled for a 7 p.m. Eastern Time start at Rupp Arena. The injury report will be updated roughly two hours before tipoff on Tuesday.  

Tennessee has won three straight since loss to Kentucky

Butler returned from a shoulder injury to play 23 minutes in an 80-57 win over South Carolina Saturday in Lexington. Butler had not played since the 74-69 loss at Auburn on January 25, missing the win at Tennessee that followed. 

Butler had eight points, three assists, a rebound and a block against South Carolina. The San Diego State transfer is averaging 13.5 points, 4.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds, shooting 54.7% from the floor and 42.4% from the 3-point line. 

“Lamont’s really good,” Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey said before practice Monday morning in Knoxville. “He’s kind of the head of the snake for them. He sets the tempo, he sets the pace. He can score, he can facilitate. He’s dynamic in transition and he’s also a really good defender. I think he changes them drastically.”

Forward Andrew Carr played only one minute in the win at Tennessee due to a back injury. He’s averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 23.7 minutes per game.

Tennessee has bounced back from the Kentucky loss to win three straight games, beating Florida 64-44, Missouri 85-81 and Oklahoma 70-52. 

Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic Jr. missed the Florida game. The two players over their last two games have combined for 67 points, 21 rebounds, 25 assists, six steals and five blocks 

Felix Okpara averaging 7.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.0 blocks this season

Okpara had four points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the first game against Kentucky. He’s averaging 7.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 24.1 minutes per game.

“Felix is an elite defender,” Gainey said. “He’s elite and he’s been elite since day one, since he got here. His ability to defend on the perimeter, move his feet switch off on guards while also guard bigs, just makes him so unique. 

“And then how quick he is off the floor. (He’s a) multiple-jump guy around the rim and he has great timing. So both of those things help him in shot blocking.”

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