Tyler Lundblade is practicing without limitations for Tennessee basketball after undergoing back surgery in August.
The 6-foot-6 senior guard gave the positive update at SEC Basketball Tipoff '27 at the Hotel Wildemont on Oct. 13.
Lundblade had been limited
to individual work − shooting, ball-handling and conditioning − when the Vols started preseason practices on Sept. 22, but he is now healthy enough to join team drills."Now I’m back full speed, full go in practice for the full time. So it feels great," Lundblade said. "Still getting my legs back under me but being out with the guys is what I’ve been missing.”
The timing is good for Lundblade with Tennessee set to play the first of two preseason exhibitions against Xavier at Food City Center
on Oct. 15 (7 p.m., SEC Network+).
Lundblade, a transfer from Belmont, underwent a procedure to repair his injured back, after he had exhausted all his non-surgical options during the offseason. He had to take in most of the Vols' practices this summer from the sideline, but said the new perspective helped him understand better what the coaches want.
“I think, as a player, you miss a lot of things, so being on the sideline, you have a coach’s perspective," Lundblade said. "So I picked up on a lot of things that, as a player, you miss because you’re worried about yourself and there’s five other guys out there and you can’t see everything all at once.”
As the Player of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference for the 2025-26 season, Lundblade averaged 15.6 points per game while shooting 40.6% from 3-point range. He's a 43.5% 3-point shooter for his career and immediately becomes the Vols' best 3-point threat now that he's healthy.
UT coach Rick Barnes knew Lundblade could shoot when they recruited him, but they challenged him to become a better defender during the offseason too.
Lundblade said his time on the sidelines helped him learn the defensive system. Now he's seeing the hours he spent learning while off the court translate to better defense as he steps back onto the court.
“Obviously, not being a part of practice, you see the things he’s been harping on all summer long," Lundblade said. "And so when you come back, and I’ve been back for the last couple of days, you realize these are the things that I really need to lock in on and focus on because it’s what he wants. So I think it goes back to being an observer, seeing the game and thinking differently over the course of the summer.”
Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball. Email him at stephen.thompson@knoxnews.com and follow him on X @stephenethom.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Injury update on Tyler Lundblade, fully cleared for Tennessee basketball
