Injury Woes for Kentucky Wildcats Ahead of Vanderbilt Clash

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Wildcats will be without key players Lamont Robinson and Kerr Kriisa for their upcoming game against Vanderbilt on Wednesday evening, as announced by the SEC injury report.

Robinson, who has been sidelined due to a wrist injury sustained in practice, and Kriisa, recovering from a broken foot since December, represent significant losses for the Wildcats. This will mark Robinson’s third consecutive missed game, while Kriisa has not played since a December 7 matchup against Gonzaga.

Head coach John Pope provided updates during his weekly radio show, stating, “For Lamont, he’s actually moving pretty well. He still hasn’t practiced with live play, but for him, it’s just a matter of how far along does he have to get where he could actually take a hit in the game? That’s the biggest question for him.” Pope also highlighted the uncertainty concerning Robinson’s readiness, as he has not participated in any drills since injuring his wrist more than a week ago.

In their recent game against Texas, Kentucky suffered an 82-78 loss, showing signs of struggle without their top scorers. Robinson and Butler are the second and third leading scorers for the Wildcats, averaging 13.3 and 12.5 points per game, respectively. In their absence, players like Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston stepped up, combining for 38 points while trying to fill the gap left by the injured players.

Despite these setbacks, Kentucky maintains a record of 17-8 (6-6 SEC) and is still in a favorable position for the NCAA Tournament. However, with the injuries, they face a tough challenge as they prepare to meet the Vanderbilt Commodores, who are also sporting a 17-8 record (5-7 SEC).

The tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena, and the Wildcats are hoping to make progress on the injury front in the days leading up to the game. “We’re all working hard to get back in form and support the team every way we can,” Pope added.

Robinson’s prior game against South Carolina saw him visibly struggling with his wrist, yet he attempted to play through the pain. Pope joked about the possibility of Robinson playing left-handed if his right wrist remains an issue, saying, “He’s done a ton of left-hand shooting and probably unsurprisingly, he’s making a lot of shots left-handed. So I am actually pushing him to tie up the right wrist, get that thing safe in a big cast, and let’s go play lefty on Wednesday.”

Pope also mentioned Kriisa’s situation regarding a medical redshirt, noting that he qualifies due to having played less than 30% of the season’s games. Kriisa’s recovery has been slower than expected, but Pope expressed hope that he will return to court action soon.

The Wildcats remain optimistic about their prospective injury news as they get set to host a challenging Vanderbilt team that is on equal footing in terms of standings. Kentucky aims for a turnaround after a rough patch, hoping to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.