Dylan Cardwell returns to practice for Auburn ahead of SEC Tournament

Auburn could have its rotation back to full strength when it opens play in the SEC Tournament on Thursday evening.

Backup center Dylan Cardwell, who has been dealing with a right ankle injury, returned to practice this week ahead of Auburn’s matchup with 10th-seeded Arkansas in Nashville, Tenn., according to coach Bruce Pearl. Cardwell missed Auburn’s regular-season finale against then-No. 12 Tennessee on Saturday after injuring his ankle late in the Tigers’ overtime loss at Alabama last Wednesday.

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Cardwell’s injury occurred with just more than two minutes left in the extra period of Auburn’s 90-85 loss to Alabama, when the Tide’s Mark Spears fell into Cardwell’s legs while both attempted to grab a rebound. Cardwell corralled the ball and passed it away before tumbling to the ground, where he remained down on the baseline under the Alabama basket holding his right ankle while officials had to stop play.

Cardwell eventually limped off the court but did not return to the game. He then missed practice ahead of the regular-season finale and was sidelined for the Tigers’ 79-70 win against the Vols on Saturday. In his place, freshman Yohan Traore saw a return to the rotation, playing eight minutes off the bench.

“Dylan practice today,” Pearl said Tuesday afternoon. “He wasn’t in there a lot, but he was in there enough to think he is possible.”

The 6-foot-11, 256-pound Cardwell has averaged 3.7 points, four rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.1 assists per game in 29 appearances this season, including one start. He’s shooting 73.9 percent from the field, including a 75 percent clip on 2-point attempts while playing 13.7 minutes per game for Auburn, which earned the No. 7 seed in the SEC Tournament.

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