UNC Basketball Update: Will Cormac Ryan Play Against Tennessee? Latest Starter News

CHAPEL HILL — UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis mentioned that starting guard Cormac Ryan is still recuperating from an ankle injury before the upcoming game against No. 10 Tennessee in the first ACC/SEC Challenge.

“He’s planning to practice (Tuesday),” Davis stated in regards to Ryan, who was out with a right ankle injury during the 17th-ranked Tar Heels’ victory over Arkansas in the Bahamas.

“He’s improving every day, but it’s still uncertain if he’ll be fit to play (Wednesday) night or not.”

Ryan, who transferred from Notre Dame, was part of the starting lineup for the first five games of the season. He twisted his right ankle in the final moments of UNC’s defeat to Villanova at the Battle 4 Atlantis.

In the two games Ryan participated in at the three-game event, the guard achieved 15 points against Northern Iowa and a season-high 18 points against the Wildcats.

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The Tar Heels (5-1) and Vols (4-2) will kick off at 7:15 p.m. at the Dean E. Smith Center. The match will be broadcasted on ESPN.

UNC basketball’s Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble could step in after Cormac Ryan injury

With Ryan in UNC warmup gear on the sideline, guards Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau took the court to provide support. This duo aided UNC in securing a 15-point victory over Arkansas.

Cadeau and Trimble each played over 25 minutes, collectively delivering 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Trimble achieved a career-high 12 points against the Razorbacks. If Ryan is unable to play against the Vols, Cadeau and Trimble will need to maintain their level of performance.

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be contacted at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Will Cormac Ryan play vs. Tennessee?: Injury update for UNC basketball