Jaylin Williams a ‘game-time decision’ for No. 11 Auburn’s visit to No. 4 Tennessee
On Tuesday afternoon — 10 days after Auburn fifth-year forward Jaylin Williams went down with a knee injury in the Tigers’ loss to the Kentucky Wildcats on Feb. 17 — Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said “it’s possible” Williams returns to action when No. 11 Auburn travels to No. 4 Tennessee Wednesday night.
“Jaylin will travel,” Pearl said. “And while he was not available for Georgia, it’s possible he could play tomorrow.”
Williams did tag along with the Tigers over the weekend as they traveled to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. However, he remained in street clothes and didn’t dress out for the contest.
“We’ll see how he does today. He move around a lot yesterday, more than we thought he would,” Pearl said Tuesday. “That may just be a game-time decision.”
Should Williams not be good to go Wednesday night in Knoxville, the Tigers will be without the most winningest player in program history, as well as a guy who is averaging 13 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for the second game in a row.
Fortunately for Auburn, it was able to take care of business at Georgia as Chad Baker-Mazara, Chaney Johnson and Aden Holloway all rose to the occasion with brilliant performances that helped the Tigers beat the Bulldogs 97-76.
When the Tigers get to Tennessee Wednesday night, they’ll be battling the Volunteers in a matchup with great implications in terms of the SEC regular season title.
“It’s almost for March and we’re still playing for championships,” Pearl said Tuesday. “And there just aren’t many teams in the country who can say that — particularly in a league this good… Every game now, home or on the road, is precious.”