Tennessee Basketball: Updating Uros Plavsic's injury status
The diagnosis from Tennessee basketball trainer Chad Newman wasn’t good at first. Senior center Uros Plavsic, the 7-foot-1 senior center for the Vols, was set to miss up to two weeks after turning his ankle in the 78-66 loss to Colorado on Sunday in Nashville.
But that timetable, like the injury itself, didn’t last long.
“He doesn’t think that now,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said of Newman Wednesday, after an 81-50 win over Florida Gulf Coast, “because he’s really responded well.
“He feels like most of the swelling is gone. (Plavsic is) walking. He told me (Wednesday), I saw him prior to the game, and he said coach I feel like I’m walking normal. I think he’ll be ready to play next week.”
Plavsic didn’t dress for the FGCU game at Thompson-Boling Arena. He was in street clothes on the bench but did not wear a walking boot.
He played just three minutes against Colorado before suffering the injury to his right ankle in the first half at Bridgestone Arena. He did not return to the game after leaving the floor under his own power with a limp.
Uros Plavsic (ankle) ‘says he’s feeling better’
No. 22 Tennessee (2-1) is off until Wednesday, when the Battle 4 Atlantis opens against Butler (3-1), the first of three games in three days on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
Associate head coach Justin Gainey said before practice Friday afternoon at Pratt Pavilion that Plavsic continues to be “moving in the right direction” with the injury.
“His spirits are up always,” Gainey said. “I’ve learned to trust Uros. Whether it’s how you feel about the game or how you feel about your health. So he says he’s feeling better, ‘Don’t worry about me coach.’ I trust Uros.”
Plavsic did not practice with Tennessee on Friday afternoon, but was dressed while doing shooting drills on his own on the side.
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Without Plavsic on Wednesday, the Vols moved to a smaller starting five with senior wing Josiah-Jordan James filling the void. Freshman Tobe Awaka played seven minutes off the bench, grabbing five rebounds. Sophomore Jonas Aidoo played 11 minutes.
Senior forward Olivier Nkmahoua had 18 points and one rebound in 26 minutes.
Up Next: No. 22 Tennessee vs. Butler, Wednesday, Battle 4 Atlantis, Bahamas
Barnes said he looked to get Awaka extra minutes against FGCU in case Plavsic is not available next week.
“That’s why we’re trying to get Tobe out there early and try to establish him,” Barnes said. “Think about it, he came up with five rebounds, and that’s what he does, but he can score the ball better. He’s putting himself in a bad position because he’s putting his feet too close together.
“He’s trying to figure out when he plays quick and when he has a chance to hold it and get a feel. He doesn’t understand where he’s on the court yet and where he needs to be consistently.”
Aidoo missed practice Tuesday while dealing with a fever, according to Barnes. His next step is on the defensive end.
“For him, it’s going to be defending and then rebounding,” Gainey said. “Making multiple efforts on the offensive glass. Trying to keep balls alive, trying to get as many of those as he can. And then on the defensive glass, securing rebounds.”
