Sources: Memphis basketball's Emoni Bates was unlikely to play vs. Tennessee due to injury
The Memphis basketball team was forced to call off last week's game against Tennessee because of COVID-19 issues, but the Tigers still might have been without one of their star freshmen had the game been played.
Freshman Emoni Bates, who is tied for second on the team with 10.8 points per game, was expected to miss the game because of a finger injury, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation told The Commercial Appeal.
The sources requested anonymity because the injury has not been made public. It's unclear what caused the injury to Bates and how severe it is, but the 17-year-old will have extra time to heal during an 11-day layoff until Memphis opens American Athletic Conference play at Tulane on Dec. 29.
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Bates wasn't the only Tiger who would have sat out Saturday. Jayden Hardaway, who attended Memphis' winter commencement ceremony Dec. 12 and graduated magna cum laude, did not make the trip to Nashville due to a non-COVID illness, according to a source. In addition, Chandler Lawson (ankle) and Earl Timberlake (knee) were likely unavailable. Lawson was hurt Nov. 24 against Virginia Tech and has not played since. Timberlake went down late Dec. 10 against Murray State.
The absences would have magnified the program's COVID-19 issues.
Hours before tip-off against the Vols, Memphis players Landers Nolley II and Tyler Harris tested positive for COVID-19. One of them experienced symptoms after the team's gameday breakfast. When his test results came back positive, his roommate was tested and was also positive.
Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said Sunday the Tigers would have only had four players available for the game, when factoring in the injured players, the players who tested positive for COVID-19 and the players who were in contact-tracing protocol because they are unvaccinated
Exactly how many unvaccinated players are on Memphis' roster is unknown, but the athletics department released a statement Tuesday that read in part, "... a majority of the team's roster is vaccinated ...," and announced it plans to resume basketball activities Dec. 27.
The Tigers (6-4) last played Dec. 14, when it upset then-No. 8 Alabama at FedExForum to snap a four-game losing streak. Memphis is hoping it can open AAC play at Tulane on time, though the Green Wave is also dealing with COVID-19 issues.
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis basketball's Emoni Bates was unlikely to play vs. Tennessee
