KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee guard Chris Lofton remained doubtful to play at top-ranked Florida on Saturday because of a sprained right ankle, coach Bruce Pearl said Friday.<br>
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Lofton, the Southeastern Conference's leading scorer at 21.5 points a game, injured his ankle Jan. 20 against South Carolina and has missed three games.<br>
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He dressed out for the last game against Georgia but Pearl said Lofton would have played only in an emergency. Pearl expects the same scenario in Gainesville.<br>
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``I'd say he's doubtful, but he's getting closer. He's making progress,'' Pearl told The Associated Press before the team left for Florida.<br>
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``He'll be dressed and will go through layup lines and he'd be available in an emergency situation, but right now I don't think he's ready to play enough of a role to make a difference.''<br>
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The Volunteers (15-7, 3-4) were struggling before Lofton was injured, going through a stretch when they lost five of six games before returning home Wednesday to beat Georgia.<br>
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Pearl has altered the starting lineup twice since Lofton's injury. He had freshmen forwards Duke Crews and Wayne Chism start together for the first time against Mississippi, but they both got into foul trouble early and Tennessee lost.<br>
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Guard Josh Tabb has started the last two games in place of Lofton, giving Tennessee three freshmen starters. Junior JaJuan Smith has helped make up for Lofton's absence by scoring over 20 points in the last four games.<br>
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When Lofton was first injured, officials said the sprain was significant but didn't give a timetable for when he would likely return.<br>
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``He had his most aggressive workout yesterday. I think if Saturday were the last game of the year he'd be able to play. How much? We would really be uncertain at this point,'' Pearl said.<br>
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``He's really close. Right now we're prepared to go without him just because I feel like he's a few days away.''<br>
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After Florida, the Vols have eight SEC games remaining in the regular season.<br>
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Tennessee faces a tough task trying to repeating last year's sweep of the eventual national champions. Lofton scored 29 points in Knoxville and 16 in Gainesville in two victories a year ago.
