Rick Barnes updates status of Santiago Vescovi (illness) for Tennessee-Creighton in Sweet 16
DETROIT — Tennessee basketball fifth-year shooting guard Santiago Vescovi is dealing with an illness and did not practice with the Vols Thursday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena. No. 2 Tennessee faces No. 3 Creighton Friday night in the Sweet 16.
“He’s just under the weather a little bit,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said during his press conference before Friday’s practice, “but we expect him to be ready.”
The practice was open for 15 minutes before being closed to media, as per NCAA Tournament regulations. Tennessee (26-8) and Creighton (25-9) are scheduled for a 10:09 p.m. Eastern Time start (TV: TBS/truTV) in the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Region.
The Vols and Bluejays follow No. 1 Purdue and No. 5 Gonzaga in Friday’s early game, with the winners from each game meeting in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
Vescovi has started all 34 games for Tennessee his season. He averages 6.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assist in 25.7 minutes per game. He’s Tennessee all-time leader in starts (144) and in the second-round win over Texas became the program’s all-time leader in steals with 212.
He went 1-for-4 from the field in the 62-58 win over the Longhorns, finishing with four rebounds and three steals in 20 minutes.
Tennessee advanced out of the first round with a 83-49 win over No. 15 Saint Peter’s on Thursday in Charlotte.
Creighton beat No. 14 Akron in the first round, then beat No. 11 Oregon in double-overtime Saturday night to get back to the Sweet 16.
Greg McDermott took Creighton to the Elite Eight last year, before losing to San Diego State, with the Aztecs on their way to the national championship game against UConn. Two years ago Creighton went to the Sweet 16 before losing to No. 1 Gonzaga.
Creighton is ranked No. 11 overall in the KenPom.com ratings. The Bluejays are ranked No. 11 in adjusted offensive efficiency, scoring 120.2 points per 100 possessions, and No. 23 in adjusted defensive efficiency, giving up 96.3 points per 100 possession.
“They’re a really terrific team in transition,” Barnes said. “Discipline. They really have, I think, a high level basketball IQ. They know each other so well. They know what they’re looking for. They know to play within the rhythm of what they do. Just an extremely sound team defensively. They do a great job of helping each other.
“I’ve known Greg for a long time, coaching against him in the Big 12, and just a terrific basketball coach. His team, I think, plays the way he wants them to play.”
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