vols get scare in preparation for friday’s exhibition

Just three days before the Southeastern Conference preseason favorite Tennessee Volunteers tip it off before a live audience for the first time of the 2007/2008 college basketball season, one of the teams top performers, sophomore forward Wayne Chism, had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance after taking vicious elbow to the head during a team-practice.

The injury, which occurred at UT’s brand new practice facility, the Pratt Pavilion, was reportedly obtained when guard Jordan Howell hit Chism in the temple with an inadvertent elbow on a drive to the basket during a scrimmage Tuesday evening. Chism was said to initially have been so shaken by the blow from Howell’s elbow that he subsequently fell awkwardly to the floor and temperately lost consciousness.

The Vols gathered on the practice floor for an impromptu team-prayer in the aftermath of Chism’s injury. UT head coach Bruce Pearl and several of Chism’s teammates reportedly gathered at the hospital and stood by his bedside until the medical staff informed them that Chism’s injury was not as severe as it could have been and he should be released from the hospital the next day.

The university said in a news release Wednesday morning that Chism is alert but was held at UT Medical Center overnight for observation despite preliminary tests coming back negative.

Further studies are being conducted on the Jackson, Tennessee native who averaged 9.1 points and a team-high 5.2 rebounds per game during his freshman season with the Vols as the team made a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-foot-9 Chism, an All-SEC Freshman selection after last year, is being touted as one of the conferences most formidable big men this preseason and is expected to be a key contributor to a team that is being picked as a unanimous top-10 caliber squad nationally.

It is not known as to whether Chism will participate in the Vols preseason exhibition game against California (PA), Friday evening at 7:30 at Thompson-Boling Arena.