Tennessee’s regular-season basketball finale against Arkansas inside Thompson-Boling Arena this Saturday is also a senior day sequel for John Fulkerson.
The 6-foot-9, 219-pound forward went through senior day festivities last March before the Volunteers subdued Florida, but he ultimately elected to use the extra season of eligibility the NCAA implemented at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Fulkerson does not have the same numbers from a year ago and has gone weeks without being in the starting lineup, but the sixth-year senior has anything but regret regarding his choice.
“It’s almost like night and day,” Fulkerson said on a Zoom call after Tuesday night’s 75-68 win at Georgia. “No offense to last year, but the atmosphere of these last few games in TBA – even the most crowded game in TBA last year does not even compare. Just having the atmosphere in TBA and even having fans on the road, too, and being able to travel and actually have time to spend with each other has made this year a lot more fun.
“Last year with COVID was just so different, and I’m glad that’s behind us now.”
Fulkerson had one of his top career performances in Tennessee’s 77-73 topping of Arizona on Dec. 22, amassing 24 points and 10 rebounds, but he tested positive for COVID-19 after going home to Kingsport over Christmas and struggled to get healthy again. Vols coach Rick Barnes pulled him from the starting lineup in favor of 7-foot redshirt junior Uros Plavsic, but Fulkerson has produced key moments off the bench and has strengthened in this stretch run.