Auburn will be without backup center Dylan Cardwell as it takes on its toughest test to date.

Cardwell will miss No. 25 Auburn’s game at No. 2 Tennessee due to an undisclosed illness, the team announced shortly before tip. Cardwell did not travel with the team to Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday.

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Freshman Yohan Traore is expected to serve as the Tigers’ backup big man behind Johni Broome. The Tigers and Vols are set for a 1 p.m. tip from Thompson-Bolling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., with the game airing on ESPN.

Cardwell has averaged 4.1 points, four rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 blocks per game for Auburn this season while backing up Broome. The junior has also shot 79.2 percent from the field in 14.2 minutes per game off the bench. In SEC play, Cardwell averaged 2.9 points, 2.7 boards and one block per game.

He is coming off one of his better games of the season Wednesday night against Georgia, when he scored eight points, pulled down five rebounds and dished out three assists while also adding a block in the Tigers’ 21-point win at Neville Arena.

With Cardwell out, Traore is expected to return to the rotation. The five-star freshman has not played in Auburn’s last three games, as Chris Moore has shifted to the role of backup four.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.