The Gators’ depth will be tested tonight in Knoxville, Tenn.
Guard Michael Frazier II (concussion) will miss No. 8 Florida’s matchup with Tennessee at 9 p.m., and he is questionable for Saturday’s home contest against Alabama, coach Billy Donovan said Monday.
Frazier suffered the head injury with 11:42 remaining during UF’s 71-54 victory against Arkansas on Saturday. As he dove for a loose ball, the freshman took a knee to the head from guard Scottie Wilbekin. After remaining face down on the ground for more than a minute, Frazier exited to the locker room and did not return.
Donovan said Frazier failed some of his baseline tests Sunday but should begin light exercise within the next two days once team doctors clear him.
Frazier has been Florida’s top freshman this year, averaging 6.4 points with a team-best 48.9 percent clip from three-point range. The 6-foot-4 Tampa native has also shown prowess as a rebounder, grabbing 3.4 boards in 18.7 minutes per game off the bench.
After Frazier sits out Tuesday’s game, five of UF’s eight regular contributors will have missed at least one contest this year due to injury.
“It’s been kind of some strange stuff that has happened,” Donovan said. “The one thing that has been good is that our guys have responded. … We’ve just gotten obviously this year a large rash of [injuries].”
With Frazier out and forward Will Yeguete still inactive after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on Feb. 8 to remove bone chips in his right knee, the Gators are left with only six healthy players averaging double-digit minutes this year.
Donovan will need guard Braxton Ogbueze, forward DeVon Walker and guard Dillon Graham to come off the bench and fill Frazier’s void Tuesday night. All three freshmen average fewer than 5 minutes per game and normally play during the tail end of routs.
The 6-foot-6, 191-pound Walker has shot 3 of 19 in 2012-13.
Ogbueze has fared better in limited minutes, averaging 0.9 points on 31.6 percent shooting. Graham is 0 of 8 from behind the arc.
“Through foul trouble, substitutions and fatigue, we’re going to have to utilize those guys,” Donovan said. “The uncertainty and the unknown is these guys have not really been in situations in the heart and heat of the game to see how they will respond. They’re going to get kind of thrust into that [tonight] in Knoxville.”
Due to a shorthanded roster, Donovan might experiment with unfamiliar lineups, including a four-guard rotation with 6-foot-6 forward Casey Prather at center.
“It’s whatever,” Prather said. “I have to do it to win. I’m not as big as those guys, but I know my teammates will help me out as far as like helping in the post.”
Tennessee (16-10, 8-6 Southeastern Conference) has won five straight contests and beat Florida twice last year. The Volunteers defeated the Gators 67-56 last season in Knoxville.
UT could exploit UF’s rebounding if the Gators (22-4, 12-2 SEC) choose to go small.
The Volunteers are third in the league with an average rebounding margin of plus-5.5. Florida has only won the rebounding battle once in five games since Yeguete’s surgery.
UT center Jarnell Stokes, a 6-foot-8, 270-pound bruiser, averages 12.8 points and nine rebounds per game.
“He’s got a football player body,” center Patric Young said. “I just have to hold my ground and stay out of foul trouble.”
Yeguete update: Donovan said Monday that Yeguete would be inserted into Thursday’s practice “in some shape or form.”
“Whether or not that means he can play on Saturday, I don’t know,” Donovan said. “He’s going to start getting into practice, but I don’t know when he’ll be allowed to absorb contact and those kinds of things.”
Trainers help Michael Frazier II (20) off the court after the freshman guard suffered a concussion in UF’s win against Arkansas on Saturday.
