Janiah Barker out for Tennessee's NCAA Tournament game vs. NC State
The Tennessee Volunteers will be without one of their most consistent players for their first-round March Madness matchup against NC State on Friday.
The University of Tennessee women's basketball team will be without one of their key players in their first round matchup of the NCAA Tournament . Senior forward Janiah Barker is out with an illness for the No. 10-seeded Lady Volunteers' (16-13) game against the No.
7 seed NC State Wolfpack at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan on Friday, as reported by Cora Hall of the Knoxville News Sentinel, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. According to Hall, no players were listed on the initial availability report on Thursday, March 19, which published two hours after the Lady Vols ' open practice -- which Barker participated in -- had ended. Barker also reportedly was on the podium and spoke with reporters in the locker room during media availability.
But one day later, Barker's name appeared on the report. She was reportedly not present on the court during the team's pregame warmups. Just a few days prior, head coach Kim Caldwell alluded to some kind of injury that Barker may be dealing with but didn't get into specifics.
"Janiah's a little banged up," Caldwell told reporters on March 16. "She'll be limited today. " It's a big loss for the Lady Vols as Barker — who transferred from UCLA — has been one of their most productive players this season, averaging 14.