Basilio is stirring the pot quite a bit in his blog at tonybasilio dot com:
Tennessee Is Staring At Being Short Handed Due To Flu & Covid Concerns Tonight:
As of yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon 4 players were sick and addled with a virus of some sort. I believe Tennessee is facing being without at least two starters for tonight's game and perhaps another one if a test comes back positive. Needless to say this isn't the way Tennessee wanted to ring out 2021 and ring in the 2022 SEC season.
As we reported first in the market yesterday Tennessee administered tests to at least two players that were showing symptoms leading up to yesterday's departure from Knoxville. Grant Ramey of 24/7 reported that it's safe to assume that Tennessee will be shorthanded tonight and I completely agree with his assessment. As I wrote above I hear the number is 4 players that are in doubt for tonight but that number could expand or contract depending on how testing goes. One source close to the deal told me that a lot of guys aren't feeling well. Some of these players have tested negative for Covid but are thought to be sick with a flu like virus making its way through the team. It should be noted that all rotational players traveled to Tuscaloosa.
Vegas Knows The Deal On Tonight:
The game opened as Tennessee +1.5 and got immediately bet to Tennessee +3. Draft Kings immediately took the game off the board as the action started to move. Vegas is in the business of knowing. You could see the line really rocket up if the players in question become known. Follow the money ...
Give Rick Barnes Credit:
Despite the fact that Tennessee could be down a few to several guys Rick Barnes is absolutely keeping his word ... Tennessee is playing tonight even if they have to throw some walk ons out there or summon players from the student body. This is EXACTLY what he said he would do when Memphis canceled on the Vols a few weeks back. 88 mens' basketball teams are now in pause but Tennessee isn't one of them.
Great Opportunity For Tennessee Tonight:
If Tennessee wins Barnes is heroic. If the Vols lose the committee will grade Tennessee on the curve. It won't count against them if Tennessee plays without arguably their two best players. Plus Barnes is going to get the opportunity to work some guys like Powell, BHH, Zeigler and the like. I will give a hint that a couple of the guys they're expected to be without tonight were missing earlier in the year in a scrimmage with Davidson where Tennessee played very well. Ironically Davidson beat Alabama in the Tide's last game before Christmas. You can't make this stuff up.