It is still painfully clear that the Kentucky Wildcats’ top priority at the moment is recovering from a disappointing loss to Texas. Head coach Mark Pope provided a quick update on the injury status of two important Wildcats players who missed the game against the Longhorns, Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, during his Monday radio show. The staff is optimistic that Butler will be able to resume live practice repetitions within the next week or two, Pope said.He (Butler) 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,” said Pope. “That’s the biggest question for him. That’s going to be a little bit of a guessing game. We’ll try and get him some live stuff in practice over the next week or so.”
As for Robinson, he’s still not even using his injured right shooting hand in the little work he’s able to do.
“For Jax, he still hasn’t done anything with his right hand. He’s done a ton of left-handed shooting, and probably unsurprisingly, he’s making a lot of shots left-handed,” said Pope.
Butler, who has been averaging 12.5 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game, suffered another setback in Kentucky’s recent game against Tennessee. Despite playing through pain, the fifth-year guard re-injured himself and was ruled out for the Texas game. His ability to facilitate the offense and provide defensive pressure has been crucial for the Wildcats, making his absence a significant blow.
Meanwhile, Robinson has also been dealing with an injury that has kept him off the floor. The sharpshooting wing, who is averaging 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, initially hurt his wrist in practice before the South Carolina game. Though he attempted to play through it, he aggravated the injury further during that contest. As a result, Robinson was forced to sit out against Tennessee and was also ruled out against Texas.
Pope and the Kentucky coaching staff are closely monitoring both players, balancing the urgency of their return with ensuring their long-term health. With key games ahead, the Wildcats must adapt without two of their top scorers. Their status for future matchups remains a day-by-day decision as the team hopes for a swift recovery.
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