Kennedy Chandler, John Fulkerson clear COVID-19 protocols for Tennessee basketball vs. Ole Miss
Kennedy Chandler and John Fulkerson are available for Tennessee basketball vs. Ole Miss on Wednesday after clearing COVID-19 protocols.
Chandler and Fulkerson missed Tennessee's 73-68 loss to Alabama on Dec. 29 after testing positive for COVID-19. Chandler and Fulkerson both returned to Knoxville after time off over Christmas with symptoms and tested positive.
Tennessee expects to have all players available for practice Monday, a UT spokesperson said. The No. 18 Vols (9-3. 0-1 SEC) host the Rebels (8-4, 0-0) on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network) in their SEC home opener. Ole Miss' scheduled Dec. 29 SEC opener against Florida was postponed due to COVID-19 issues within the Gators' program.
Coach Rick Barnes said Dec. 20 that 15 of 17 Tennessee players have received their COVID-19 vaccine. He indicated Monday that several of Tennessee's players received a booster shot Thursday.
He said that UT hasn't changed protocols and policies recently.
"Our guys have done a good job," Barnes said. "What we need, we just need to make sure our guys know when they walk out of this building, they make good decisions on where they go and things they do because all of that in some way can affect us if you put yourself in a position where you are exposed to a lot of people that you don’t know.
"That is where we have to be really thinking about where we are in today’s time and everything that is going on with the the COVID. That is what we have to do, ask them to make good decisions when they walk out of this building.”
Assistant coach Justin Gainey was not with Tennessee in Tuscaloosa in accordance with SEC COVID-19 protocols.
Barnes said a walk-on is among the unvaccinated pair on UT's roster. The other is a "scholarship player being redshirted." Freshman forward Handje Tamba is the lone scholarship player who has not played yet.
Chandler is Tennessee's leading scorer. The freshman point guard is averaging 14 points and a team-leading 5.3 assists per game.
Fulkerson had a 24-point, 10-rebound outing in UT's 77-73 win against then-No. 4 Arizona on Dec. 22. He was named the SEC co-player of the week Dec. 27.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Kennedy Chandler, John Fulkerson are available for Tennessee basketball vs. Ole Miss
