Crump likely will miss visit from Kentucky

Tennessee's senior forward underwent treatment for a badly sprained left ankle all day Sunday.

Swelling hadn't increased and no further X-rays were required.

"I really don't know much more than what we knew (Saturday)," UT coach Buzz Peterson said. "I've talked to him twice and he seemed to be doing all right."

Crump suffered the injury in the early going of an 85-62 loss at Louisville on Saturday.

The timing couldn't have been worse.

First, the 6-foot-10 Crump was off to a quick start against the 14th-ranked Cardinals.

Second, the eighth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats come calling Tuesday. Tip-off is 7 p.m.

"It puts a lot on all the other guys to produce," Peterson said. "We're just looking at our options. We may just end up going with a smaller lineup."

Peterson still didn't rule out Crump playing Tuesday, but the distinct impression is that's a longshot.

"All we can do is prepare like he's not going to be there," Peterson said. "I'm not going to say he's not going to play. We'll just keep giving him treatment."

Crump is averaging 11.6 points a game, hitting a team-high 59 percent of his shots, and is the team's second-leading rebounder behind Andre Patterson.

"I just want to get back on the court as soon as possible," Crump said Saturday.

That's understandable after the start he had against Louisville.

He scored the first two baskets of the game, staked UT to 4-0 lead and appeared on his way to a big night at Freedom Hall.

Then he came down awkwardly, landing on the foot of Louisville's Juan Palacios.

"It's real disappointing," Crump said. "Coming out scoring those first two buckets I knew I was in for a good game, but it just didn't work out that way."

Crump had an X-ray done at a mobile unit on site at Freedom Hall, but tests were negative.

"There's no break," Peterson said. "The swelling is kind of high up, on top of the foot, not so much on the side at the ankle."

Peterson spent his Sunday watching game tape of Kentucky's past three games, victories against LSU, Ole Miss and Georgia.

The Wildcats (14-2) are unbeaten in five SEC outings. Tennessee is 10-8, 3-2 in conference play.

Crump's teammates - who played so well until losing steam late against the Cardinals - are just hoping for a speedy recovery.

"It's a big loss for us," freshman Chris Lofton said. "That's 13 or 14 points and 8 or 9 rebounds for us. He was missed (against Louisville) and it showed."