Felix Okpara and Amaree Abram’s Injury Status Remains a Mystery Ahead of High-Stakes Kentucky Clash

Tennessee basketball is at a crossroads right now, with key players Felix Okpara and Amaree Abram hovering on a day-to-day injury status as the Volunteers prep for a critical showdown against Kentucky at Rupp Arena on February 7. Okpara, the starting center, has been sidelined by a nagging left calf injury for the last two matchups, while Abram, the reserve guard, missed the recent win over Ole Miss due to flu-like symptoms. Coach Rick Barnes remains cautiously optimistic but is clearly waiting on how these players respond to practice sessions in the lead-up to the game. Meanwhile, the Vols’ grit shines through as freshmen like DeWayne Brown II, Amari Evans, and Troy Henderson step up, reshaping the lineup and adding fresh energy amidst these challenges. It’s a tense, unfolding narrative that could define Tennessee’s SEC journey this season—and I’m here, watching it all with keen eyes. LEARN MORE

Tennessee basketball is still evaluating the status of Felix Okpara and Amaree Abram for its next game.

The starting center and reserve guard are still day-to-day as the Vols (16-6, 6-3 SEC) gear up for Kentucky (16-7, 7-3) at Rupp Arena on Feb. 7 (8:30 ET, ESPN).

Okpara has missed the Vols‘ last two games with a left calf injury.

“We’ll see when we practice,” Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes said about Okpara. “We’ll see. He hadn’t done anything. Last night when I left, he said he was feeling a little bit better, but it’ll be based on if he does anything today in practice.”

Abram was ruled out of Tennessee’s 84-66 win over Ole Miss on Feb. 3 with flu-like symptoms.

“He hasn’t been back,” Barnes said. “I think he’s supposed to be back today, but he didn’t practice. Obviously didn’t play (against Ole Miss). He wasn’t around us. We kept him kind of quarantined from everybody.”

The Vols’ have weathered the loss of Okpara and Abram by starting freshman DeWayne Brown II and giving freshman guards Amari Evans and Troy Henderson more playing time.

Henderson, who missed time with a shoulder injury, finished with three points and an assist in eight minutes against Ole Miss. It was the most he’s played since Tennessee’s home loss to Kentucky on Jan. 17.

Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: [email protected]

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Felix Okpara, Amaree Abram injury update status day-to-day vs Kentucky