Kentucky Wildcats Face Challenges Ahead of Vanderbilt Matchup

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Wildcats are bracing for Wednesday’s game against Vanderbilt without key players due to injuries. Point guard Lamont Butler (shoulder) and shooting guard Jaxson Robinson (wrist) will not participate, as confirmed by the SEC injury report released before the matchup.

Butler’s absence comes after he re-aggravated his shoulder injury during a win over Tennessee on February 13. While he returned for the South Carolina game on February 2 after a previous three-game hiatus, Butler’s current condition raises concerns about his ability to take contact in games. Head Coach Jon Pope mentioned during a radio show Monday that Butler is progressing but has not yet engaged in full-contact practice. “For Lamont, he’s actually moving pretty well,” Pope said. “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.”

Robinson’s situation is more uncertain. Since suffering a wrist injury during practice before the South Carolina game, he has not played due to pain. Despite practicing with his left hand, his right wrist remains untested in gameplay. Pope humorously suggested the possibility of Robinson playing left-handed against Vanderbilt. “For Jax, he still hasn’t done anything with his right hand,” he said. “He’s done a ton of left-handed shooting and probably unsurprisingly, he’s making a lot of shots left-handed.”

With these injuries, Travis Perry and Trent Noah are expected to see extended playing time. The Wildcats are also potentially missing another key player, Kerr Kriisa, who has been sidelined since undergoing surgery for a broken foot in December. Kriisa’s recovery has been slow, but Pope noted that he might qualify for a medical redshirt if he does not meet the threshold of games played.

As Kentucky battles through these setbacks, they have faced challenges recently, winning only three out of their last eight games. The team is currently 17-8 overall and 6-6 in the SEC, setting the stage for a crucial matchup against the Commodores, who are similarly positioned at 17-8 and 5-7 in the SEC.

The game will tip off at 7 PM ET at Rupp Arena, where the Wildcats will seek to improve their standing while navigating the ongoing injury crisis. This meeting is particularly significant as Kentucky looks for redemption after a loss at Texas on Saturday.