Tyler Lundblade isn’t ready to put a date on his return.
But after spending much of his first offseason at Tennessee on the sideline, the veteran guard believes he is getting close.
Lundblade said Tuesday that he has made significant progress over the past several weeks following a procedure that disrupted his summer. He recently began running on an underwater treadmill and expects to progress to an AlterG treadmill before returning to running on the ground.
“I’ve been progressing really nicely the last couple weeks,” Lundblade said. “So, should be back pretty soon.”
Lundblade can currently form shoot and work on his ball handling, but Tennessee has kept him away from heavier impact work. He continues physical therapy with director of rehabilitation John Dean as he works through the final stages of his progression.
“This week I’ve been running on the underwater treadmill,” Lundblade said. “We got a couple of those sessions left and I’ll move to Ultra G and then running back on ground again.”
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said the Vols intend to remain cautious with the sixth-year guard.
“He seems to be optimistic about it,” Barnes said. “We’ll err on the cautious side of it there because obviously he’s going to bring a different weapon to what we do.”
The injury created an unusual start at Tennessee for Lundblade, who transferred from Belmont for his final college season. He arrived in Knoxville early and participated in workouts before the injury significantly restricted his activity.
Lundblade and Tennessee initially tried to address the issue without surgery. He took an oral steroid and received an injection, but neither provided enough relief.
Eventually, Lundblade faced a choice between undergoing surgery or continuing to manage the issue. He described the procedure as a relatively non-invasive, 45-minute “cleanup” and said it has made a noticeable difference.
“It’s helped a lot,” Lundblade said. “I feel really good. And I’m really happy that that’s the route that we went down.”
Still, missing much of the offseason proved frustrating for a player entering his final college season at a new program.
“It’s not how you envision going to a new place,” Lundblade said. “Nobody wants to be hurt and especially coming into a new place in my last year.”
The injury hasn’t completely removed Lundblade from basketball.
He continued individual skill work throughout the summer without contact and has stayed heavily involved in Tennessee’s practices. Lundblade has used the time to study Barnes’ system, watch additional film and discuss X’s and O’s with his new coach.
Barnes believes Lundblade’s experience should make his eventual transition onto the floor easier.
The 6-foot-5 guard also brings an important floor-spacing element to Tennessee’s offense. Barnes believes Lundblade’s shooting alone can stretch the court and create additional space for his teammates.
Lundblade sees himself similarly.
“As a shooter, I kind of feel like I’m a plug-and-play piece,” Lundblade said. “I feel like I can fit in any system.”
Watching practice has only reinforced where Lundblade believes he can help.
He expects his shooting to create more room for Tennessee’s pick-and-roll game, driving lanes and offensive rebounding opportunities. That spacing could prove particularly valuable for players such as Terence Hill, whom Lundblade praised for his ability to get into the paint and create for others.
The remaining question is when Tennessee gets that piece back.
Neither Barnes nor Lundblade offered a firm timetable Tuesday. Lundblade, however, made his goal clear.
“In a perfect world, I wouldn’t miss any games,” Lundblade said. “But I’m also not going to sit here and give you a hard deadline of when I’ll be back.”
For now, his progression provides reason for optimism as Tennessee moves deeper into the preseason.
“The way things are going, I feel really good about where I’m at,” Lundblade said. “And should be, you know, back ready to roll.”
