Tennessee striker John Fulkerson is out of the SEC tournament due to facial injuries sustained in Friday’s victory over Florida, the school announced.
Fulkerson left the game on Friday after receiving two elbows to the head of Florida’s Omar Payne, who was sent off.
“It was a dirty game,” Tennessee striker Yves Pons told reporters on Friday. “This has nothing to do with a basketball court. Of course, we take it personally. We love John. We play for him. We protect him.”
Fulkerson, a six-foot veteran who has started 55 games in the past two seasons, has averaged 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds this season. He had 14 points and seven rebounds against Florida at the end of the regular season, and had eight points in 19 minutes against the Gators on Friday.
Rick Barnes could choose to go with a lower lineup against Alabama on Saturday, with second-year guard Josiah-Jordan James, potentially replacing Fulkerson. James played 30 minutes against Florida on Friday, ending with 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists off the bench.