If Tennessee is going to make it to the Sweet Sixteen, it will have to do so without the services of a starter against Loyola-Chicago.

Just prior to tipoff, the Volunteers announced that starter Kyle Alexander will be replaced by John Fulkerson in the starting lineup for the Second Round NCAA Tournament game. Alexander was injured against Tennessee’s opening round game against Wright State. His availability was unknown heading into the Loyola-Chicago contest.

Alexander, a junior, averages just over five points and five rebounds a game for the Volunteers. He averaged 20 minutes on the court per game for Tennessee this season. At 6-foot-11, Alexander is one of Tennessee’s bigger and lengthiest players on the roster.

Tennessee has officially ruled Alexander out of the game: