Tyler Lundblade is getting dangerously close to hitting the court for Tennessee, with Rick Barnes dropping a huge hint about his recovery. The sharpshooting guard, who’s been sidelined since back surgery in August, was just cleared to load up to 190 pounds on the treadmill in rehab. That’s a massive step, meaning he’s “getting real close to having full weight,” according to Barnes.
The Sharpshooter’s Push to Get Back
It’s been a bumpy offseason for Lundblade, Tennessee’s first transfer portal addition. This 6-foot-6 senior, known for draining threes, hasn’t been able to practice with the team yet. His summer rehab didn’t go as planned, leading to back surgery. But don’t let that fool you; the surgery wasn’t considered serious, and the dude was back in basketball activities last week. Media even spotted him getting some work in during an open practice session on Tuesday. Barnes confirmed Lundblade is “doing okay,” talking about how Chad, likely his trainer, is getting him back on track. From here, Barnes assumes Lundblade will “take it to some grass and turn loose a little bit,” which sounds like he’s about to unleash the beast. Lundblade himself is champing at the bit, telling Barnes every day that he’s “doing great,” but the team is sticking to the doctors’ protocol.
What Lundblade Brings to Knoxville
This guy is no slouch. Lundblade is coming off a ridiculous two seasons at Belmont, where he shot a scorching 43.9 percent from three-point range, knocking down a crazy 219 shots from deep. He averaged 15.6 points per game and even snagged Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors. Now, he’s bringing that kind of game-changing ability to Knoxville, instantly rounding out a deep guard rotation that’s gonna throw opponents for a loop. While Lundblade has been out, Tennessee’s backcourt has been rolling with Terrence Hill, Juke Harris, Dai Dai Ames, and Troy Henderson for preseason scrimmages. Plus, they’ve got 6-foot-7 hybrid-guard Jalen Haralson as a likely starter, and freshmen Manny Green and Marquis Clark are already making some noise. But Lundblade’s pure shooting touch is gonna be a massive addition, making this guard rotation even scarier.
So when can we actually see him fire it up? Well, that’s still a bit up in the air, but it’s looking like “sooner rather than later” this fall. Tennessee’s first televised scrimmage is set for October 15th against Xavier, streaming on SEC Network+. Keep your eyes peeled, Seattle, because Lundblade hitting the floor could make this team something special.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply