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Santiago Vescovi back for No. 7 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Maryland, but Vols still shorthanded

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•12/11/22•

GrantRamey

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BOULDER, CO - December 04, 2021 - Guard Santiago Vescovi #25 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Tennessee Volunteers at CU Events Center in Boulder, CO. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

BROOKLYN — Santiago Vescovi will return for No. 7 Tennessee in today’s game against No. 13 Maryland. The Vols could still be shorthanded, though. Sophomore center Jonas Aidoo is out with flu-like symptoms. Senior wing Josiah-Jordan James, who has missed four games due to knee soreness, is also out.

The Vols (8-1) and Terrapins (8-1) are scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time start in the Hall of Fame Invitational game at Barclays Center.

Vescovi missed a second straight game for No. 7 Tennessee against Eastern Kentucky Wednesday night with a sprained left shoulder, but head coach Rick Barnes said during his postgame press conference that the senior shooting guard could be back for Sunday’s game.

“I think he is,” Barnes said when asked if Vescovi was on track to play against the Terrapins.

Aidoo, who did not practice with the Vols Saturday in Brooklyn, averages 4.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game off the bench. The 6-foot-11, 241-pound Aidoo has scored at least five points and grabbed at least four boards in each of his last five games, while also serving as the rim protector at the back of the defense. 

He played 13 minutes off the bench on Wednesday against Eastern Kentucky, after playing 21 a week ago against Alcorn State. He averaged 24.3 minutes per game during Tennessee’s three-game run to the Battle 4 Atlantis championship two weeks ago.

Tennessee still limiting minutes for Josiah-Jordan James (knee)

James missed four straight games with knee soreness, including all three in the Bahamas, before returning Sunday in Tennessee’s 94-40 win over Alcorn State. On Wednesday he played 17 minutes off the bench after playing 14 against Alcorn.

James has struggled to find his shot in his return, scoring three points over the last two games while going 1-for-12 from the field and 0-for-8 from the 3-point line.

Barnes said after Wednesday’s game he has no concerns over his senior wing’s shooting ability.

“There’s no doubt he’s going to shoot the ball well,” he said. “I mean every time it leaves his hand, it looks like it’s going to go in.”

Up Next: No. 7 Tennessee (8-1) vs. No. 13 Maryland (8-1), Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

James had one point against Eastern Kentucky, going 0-for-7 from the floor and 0-for-4 from the 3-point line. When he was sidelined with the knee issue last month, he was Tennessee’s leading scorer (13.7 points per game) and rebounder (6.0).

Barnes and his staff are continuing to limit the minutes for James, who said on Sunday that his knee remains “a game-by-game thing.”

“We have a plan we’re trying to work him back through,” Barnes said. “I’m not sure where it will be after (this), where we’ll progress him to. I’m sure after each game he’s doing everything he needs to do. He’s changed his diet, he’s done everything he can to do all he can to try to get himself right.”

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