Tennessee's Jahmai Mashack updates his status while playing through finger injury
Tennessee Basketball’s roster had already shrunk enough on December 23. Earlier that day, sophomore wing Cameron Carr abruptly left the program, opting to ultimately enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Then, later that night, with the No. 1-ranked Vols hosting Middle Tennessee State, senior guard Jahmai Mashack left the game after injuring fingers on his left hand.
Rick Barnes and his staff were already down to eight scholarship players available —freshman guard Bishop Boswell was out with a shoulder injury and sophomore forward JP Estrella is out for the season after undergoing foot surgery — and only had seven available with Mashack at the end of the bench being checked out by team trainer Chad Newman.
“Dove on the floor kind of came down on it and kind of saw my pinky kind of— not the way it was supposed to look,” Mashack said Friday morning before practice. “And so I was in shock. Not really feeling the pain, but just more in shock.
“But there was no way I wasn’t going to finish the game, so I just went back in, kind of put it back together, I guess, and then game right back out to finish the game.”
Up Next: No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 23 Arkansas, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
Mashack missed a few possessions after going to the Tennessee locker room, but ended up playing 28 minutes, finishing with six points, two rebounds and two steals in the win. He played 16 minutes against Norfolk State, a season low, with two fingers on his left hand taped together.
He’ll be available when No. 1 Tennessee (13-0) hosts No. 23 Arkansas (11-2) on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN) in the SEC opener at Food City Center.
“I’m just ready to go out there and play,” Mashack said. “I’m going to do whatever I can to rehab it, make sure it’s starting to feel better every day. That’s the goal for me. And just trying to be out there playing the same, with the same mindset, like it’s not even hurt.
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“But nothing’s going to keep me off the court. I think my teammates know that. My coaches know that. So going to do everything I can to try and be as close to 100%.”
Johnell Davis listed as probable on Arkansas injury report
Estrella was the only Tennessee player listed on the SEC’s injury report Friday night, despite both Mashack and Boswell (right shoulder) playing through injuries.
Arkansas listed starting guard Johnell Davis, the Florida Atlantic transfer, as probable after he missed the last two games with a wrist injury.
Mashack described it was “irritating and frustrating” to not be 100% healthy with the conference schedule starting Saturday.
“But I’m here now,” Mashack said. “I got to play with the cards that I’ve been dealt with and going from there, I’m going to act like I’m a hundred percent with that mindset and not hold anything back.”
