Tennessee updates the status of Tobe Awaka against Purdue in the Maui Invitational
Tobe Awaka is available for No. 7 Tennessee faces No. 2 Purdue in tonight’s game in the Maui Invitational. The sophomore power forward injured his right ankle early in the 73-56 win over Syracuse on Monday in the tournament’s first round.
The Vols (4-0) and Boilermakers (4-0) are scheduled for an 8 p.m. Eastern Time start on ESPN at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu
Awaka limped off the floor after recording one rebound and one missed shot in one minute played in the win over the orange.
The Vols were led by 17 points from Dalton Knecht and double-doubles from both Josiah-Jordan James and Jonas Aidoo. James had 15 points and 12 rebounds while Aidoo added 14 points and 11 boards.
Knecht scored 15 of his 17 points in 19 minutes in the first half and played just 10 minutes in the second half while battling cramps in his left leg.
The Vols entered the game short-handed after redshirt freshman guard Freddie Dilione V was ruled out for the tournament due to a partially torn plantar fascia in his left foot.
Monday’s game was the first of three games in three days for the Vols at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu. They’ll play either No. 2 Purdue or No. 11 Gonzaga on Tuesday (8 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN). The other four teams in the field are No. 1 Kansas, No. 4 Marquette, UCLA and Chaminade.
Awaka in three games this season is averaging 5.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game. He was replaced on Monday later in the first half by freshman forward JP Estrella.
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Awaka had nine points and six rebounds on Tuesday in Tennessee’s win over Wofford. He had six points in 12 minutes in the win at Wisconsin on November 10 and was scoreless with three rebounds in nine minutes against Tennessee Tech in the season opener on November 6.
In the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup last summer, Awaka averaged 11.6 points and 10.6 rebounds over seven games for Team USA.
Awaka was one of just three players to average a double-double during the tournament. He led all players in rebounds per game (10.6) and offensive rebounds (5.0).
“He had a good summer with USA Basketball I think helped him confident wise,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “He’s got really good touch. And again, the more he plays his game, the better he’s gonna get.”
Awaka averaged 3.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game last season.
Barnes said Tuesday that the Vols were working with Awaka to “not be such bull in a China shop” and “be more finesse at times.”
“Because he’s got such really good touch,” Barnes said. “I think he will probably improve throughout the year, maybe more than any guy on our team offensively. And he’s all about winning too. And he’s gonna do what he has to play and has to do to help win defensively, rebound the ball.
“I really do expect him to get better offensive as the year goes on.”
