The UK men’s basketball team is in urgent need of an SEC victory. Ranked 14th, the Wildcats are 15-7 overall and 4-5 in conference play, having lost four of their last five SEC games. On Saturday, they’ll return to Rupp Arena to face South Carolina (10-12, 0-9), the only SEC team without a league win this season. While this matchup could offer a potential win, the Wildcats are facing several injury challenges. On Friday night, the SEC injury report highlighted the status of key players ahead of the game, with updates continuing into Saturday morning.
Kentucky initially listed three players on the SEC injury report, but by Saturday morning, that number dropped to two. Point guard Kerr Kriisa, who hasn’t played since early December due to a foot injury, is confirmed out for the game. Lamont Butler, another point guard, was previously listed as questionable but was removed from the injury report on Saturday. This suggests Butler is set to return after missing the last three games. However, a new injury concern has emerged for Jaxson Robinson, the team’s second-leading scorer. Robinson, who has started all 22 games for UK, was initially listed as questionable but now carries a “game-time decision” status for Saturday.
Butler, a defensive standout who transferred from San Diego State, has missed five games this season, including two in December due to an ankle injury. More recently, he has struggled with a left shoulder issue sustained during a January game against Texas A&M. Butler played through the injury initially but struggled, with his performance dipping, including a career-high six turnovers in a loss to Vanderbilt. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope has expressed caution, hoping to ensure Butler returns to action without risking further injury. Pope has emphasized a measured approach, similar to the one used with forward Andrew Carr, who has been dealing with a back injury.
Kriisa’s situation is more complicated. After injuring his foot in a December win over Gonzaga, Kriisa had surgery and has been unable to play since. Pope provided a less optimistic update on Kriisa’s recovery, stating that he is still limited to training and weight room work, with no active court time yet. There is no clear timeline for Kriisa’s return, as it depends on how his foot responds to further rehabilitation. Without their top two point guards, the Wildcats have had to adapt, using off-ball guards like Robinson, Otega Oweh, and Koby Brea in backcourt roles. In addition, center Amari Williams has filled an unusual ball-handling role, even making history with a triple-double against Ole Miss.
For South Carolina, the only player listed on the injury report is fifth-year guard Myles Stute, who is out for the game due to a left lower leg deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) diagnosed in early January. Stute had been a regular starter for the Gamecocks, averaging 5.4 points and 2.7 rebounds per game before his injury. South Carolina has had a week off since their last game, a close four-point loss to Texas A&M, and will look to bounce back against Kentucky.
