Cade Phillips not on Tennessee's injury report for Saturday's game at Texas

Tennessee Basketball’s Cade Phillips will be available for Saturday’s game at Texas while dealing with a left shoulder injury. The sophomore forward was not listed on Friday night’s injury report despite playing just three minutes at Florida on Tuesday.

Sophomore center JP Estrella (foot) was the only player listed as out for Tennessee. Junior guard Chendall Weaver is out for Texas.

Head coach Rick Barnes said on Thursday he could tell when he watched the tape that Phillips wasn’t himself at Florida, and that the left shoulder injury was still lingering.

“He wasn’t the same in terms of like the one lob he went up for,” Barnes said before practice Thursday, “he didn’t even raise his left arm. He went up and tried to get it one-handed, which that’s one reason he didn’t play more.”

Phillips played a season-low three minutes in the 73-43 loss against the Gators, picking up two quick fouls after checking in early in the first half.

“Cade’s tough,” Barnes said. “He’s never going to complain. He’s just … I could tell he wasn’t normally what he is.”

No. 1 Tennessee at Texas, Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Tennessee (14-1, 1-1 SEC) looks to bounce back from the Florida loss at Texas (11-4, 0-2) on Saturday night (6 Eastern Time, ESPN2) at the Moody Center in Austin.

Phillips played just 11 minutes in the 76-52 win over Arkansas on Saturday, after suffering the injury in the second half.

The ESPN2 broadcast of the Tennessee-Florida game described the injury as a dislocated shoulder. He had a brace on his left shoulder during practice on Monday morning, doing individual work on the side with members of the coaching staff.

The injury occurred when Phillips went for a loose ball against Arkansas. He went into the tunnel by the Tennessee bench briefly before rejoining his teammates in the huddle during a timeout. 

Barnes said after the Arkansas game that Phillips could have played more in the second half after getting hurt, but the score didn’t make it necessary.

“He was available if we needed (him),” Barnes said during his postgame press conference. “The situation just didn’t call for it.”

Phillips is averaging 6.5 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game this season. He played 11 minutes against Arkansas — his lowest usage since playing seven minutes against Virginia on November — and finished with two points and six rebounds off the bench. 

Multiple Tennessee players dealing with injuries

The season so far has been a struggle with injuries, despite Tennessee’s undefeated 14-0 record, matching its best start in program history. 

The Vols lost sophomore power forward JP Estrella to season-ending foot surgery in late November. Sophomore wing Cameron Carr needed thumb surgery after he was injured against Austin Peay on November 17, then left the program abruptly on December 23, opting to transfer.

Freshman guard Bishop Boswell missed the Middle Tennessee State game on December 23 after injuring his shoulder against Western Carolina on December 17. He returned against Norfolk State on December 31, but has played just four minutes in the last two games. 

Both Boswell and transfer wing Darlinstone Dubar have missed one game each this season while in concussion protocol. 

Senior guard Jahmai Mashack has played with two fingers taped together on his left hand after being injured while going for a loose ball in the first half against Middle Tennessee State.

Tennessee entered the season with 11 scholarship players out of a possible 13. The Vols are down to nine scholarship players available after Carr’s departure and Estrella’s season-ending injury.