Tennessee Basketball: Uros Plavsic Is free and it was worth the wait

After months of Tennessee basketball fighting the NCAA, Uros Plavsic has received immediate eligibility for the remainder of this season.

Arizona State transfer Uros Plavsic has finally received immediate eligibility after months of fighting the NCAA, and it is worth the wait. Tennessee basketball has been fighting the NCAA since November, and in the final ruling, the NCAA rules in the Vols’ favor.

"“We appreciate the committee’s work as this process ran its course,” Athletics Director Phillip Fulmer said. “We’re thrilled that Uros will receive his opportunity to compete and that he no longer stands to lose a year of his eligibility. Our compliance staff put a great deal of work and persistence into achieving this outcome. This is the right decision.”"

Yes, this is the right decision. It should have been decided in 2019 when the initial appeal was sent in. Plavsic has a unique position in college basketball and if he would have gone anywhere other than Tennessee he probably would’ve been granted immediate eligibility lightyears ago.

Plavsic came to America from Serbia to play basketball, where he played high school basketball in Chattanooga. Serbian Drazen Zlovaric was recruiting Plavsic to Cleveland State, where he initially committed.

Zlovaric then left to Arizona State, and Plavsic followed. Zlovaric was not retained after last season, so Plavsic decided to leave and come back to his second home in East Tennessee since his Serbian recruiter was let go at Arizona State.

Under all of the new rules that the NCAA has put in place for transfers, I would think that Plavsic would be one of the first people to receive eligibility.

But there’s nothing we can do about it now. Plavsic is finally free, and it comes at a time where Tennessee could use another body to rotate throughout the game to keep bodies fresh.

The possibility of Plavsic offering some more offense to the game is also promising. He’s been practicing with the team all year long so he will be able to play immediately.

The Vols take on the Georgia Bulldogs next, so this could be the first time we get a good look at Plavsic in-game, but for now, we can celebrate Uros being freed. #UrosFreed