Rick Barnes I didn’t have an update on freshman guard Jaden Springer and his left ankle was injured after the 71-63 loss of No. 7 in Tennessee to Alabama on Saturday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
Springer finished with three points and a rebound in five minutes, leaving the game in the middle of the first half after appearing to roll his left ankle.
“I just ordered one,” Barnes said on post-game radio when asked about Springer’s health. “I don’t know anything about it. I think it was the ankle.”
A Tennessee spokesman after the game later described Springer as “everyday” with an ankle sprain. The Vols (7-1, 1-1 SEC) host Arkansas (9-1, 1-1) on Wednesday (19h, Eastern Time; TV: ESPN2) at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The replays showed Springer landing at the foot of an Alabama defender about 9:30 am the end of the first half, after driving and kicking the painting.
“Jaden would have thrived in a game like this,” said Barnes.
Tennessee’s attack fought heavily during the game. The Vols pitched 31.8 percent of the field (21-66) and 19.0 percent of the 3-point line (4-21), ending with just seven assists. There were nine free throws lost in 26 attempts.
Springer checked in with 17:18 remaining in the first half. He scored in the second possession, a jump to give the Vols a 5-2 lead at 16:35.
Tennessee got 16 points and seven rebounds from Victor Bailey in 34 minutes. Santiago Vescovi had 13 points and freshman Keon Johnson scored 11 points off the bench.
Barnes was asked after the game what the Vols should do better in the attack if Springer was sidelined.
“I’m going to look at that,” he said, “maybe I’ll change the lineup, do some things with it. Up until John Fulkerson, as far as I’m concerned, guys can take their minutes. It has been around long enough. He has to bring more than he brought today. “
Fulkerson finished with seven points and five rebounds in 26 minutes, making 2-5 on the field and 3-8 on the free-throw line.
Springer, a former five-star player, scored 13 points in Missouri on Wednesday, with Tennessee’s 73-53 victory. He scored double digits in five of the previous six games.
“We miss him a lot,” Josiah-Jordan James said Saturday night. “He’s definitely a very talented freshman that we have, especially on both sides. We definitely missed him a lot. But I talked to him, he’s in a good mood. Hopefully, we haven’t missed you much longer.
Get the fastest scores, stats, news, live videos and more. CLICK HERE to download the CBS Sports Mobile App and get the latest news about your team today
Entering Saturday, Springer averaged 11.7 points – tied with John Fulkerson as Tennessee’s second highest scorer – at 20.6 minutes per game. In the first six games, he made 7 of 10 3-point attempts and shot 56.0% of the field (28-50).
Springer is part of a packed defense court in Tennessee, with Bailey, Vescovi and James sharing the minutes.
“He’s really a close man mentally,” said James. “We would really like him to be there, but we have people ready. We fight each other every day … we know that all five guys on the court will be ready. “