Major Injury Updates for Tennessee and Florida – What It Means for Saturday’s Big Game!
The upcoming game between No. 8 Tennessee and No. 6 Florida will take place this Saturday at the Food City Center. The Vols (17-4, 4-4 SEC) are set to host the Gators (18-2, 5-2 SEC), with tipoff scheduled for noon EST. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN, with Tom Hart calling the play-by-play and former Tennessee player Dane Bradshaw providing analysis.
As part of a new policy beginning with the 2024-25 athletics season, Southeastern Conference (SEC) schools are required to provide public reports on the availability of athletes for each conference game in sports such as football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and baseball.
This initiative aims to increase transparency and give fans more information about player statuses before the games.
For Tennessee, there are several key updates on player availability. Sophomore forward J.P. Estrella has been officially ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a foot injury.
His absence leaves a notable void in the Vols’ lineup, as Estrella had been a promising contributor early in the season. Additionally, point guard Zakai Zeigler is listed as questionable, adding an element of uncertainty to Tennessee’s backcourt for the matchup.
Meanwhile, forward Igor Milicic Jr. is listed as probable, meaning he is likely to play but could still be limited depending on how his recovery progresses.
On the Florida side, the Gators will be without their towering 7-foot-1 center, Micah Handlogoten, who has been ruled out for the game. Handlogoten’s absence could impact Florida’s interior defense and rebounding efforts, given his size and physicality in the paint.
Both teams are dealing with important injuries, which could have significant implications on the game’s outcome.
As Tennessee and Florida prepare to clash, these injuries could alter the dynamics of the game and may force key players to step up in their teammates’ absence.
Fans can expect an intense matchup, especially as both teams are ranked in the top 10 and are vying for positioning in the competitive SEC standings.
