The Kentucky Wildcats are facing a critical stretch of their season, but they may have to navigate it without two key players. Head coach Mark Pope delivered a much-anticipated update on Lamont Butler and Kerr Kriisa on Thursday, but the news wasn’t as promising as fans had hoped.
Butler, the Wildcats’ floor general and defensive anchor, is set to resume non-contact practice as he continues recovering from a nagging shoulder injury that has sidelined him for the last three games. While Pope confirmed Butler would return to practice in a limited capacity, he offered no clear timeline for his full return, stating that the team will “vibe it out” as they assess his recovery.
“My goal is to put him back in a position where we have the best chance of avoiding another setback,” Pope said. “I’m not really sure what that will be.”
The absence of Butler has already taken a toll on Kentucky. While the Wildcats (15-7, 4-5 SEC) managed a gritty win over Tennessee without him, they have since suffered back-to-back double-digit losses to Ole Miss and Arkansas. His absence has been glaring on both ends of the floor—he leads the team in assists (4.8 per game) and steals (1.8 per game), and his on-ball defense has been sorely missed.
But the injury woes don’t stop there.
Pope also provided a grim update on Kerr Kriisa, who has been sidelined since December 7 with a fractured foot. The senior guard has been working out in the weight room, but Pope revealed he is still not cleared for any basketball activity.
“It’s tricky; it’s not a terrific blood-flow bone, so there’s no magic wand for it,” Pope admitted. “We’re still in the waiting phase.”
While Butler’s limited return to practice offers a glimmer of hope, Kentucky’s backcourt remains in flux as they prepare for a must-win showdown against South Carolina on Saturday. With the SEC race tightening, the Wildcats will need all hands on deck—but right now, they’re running out of time and running low on answers.
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