Right down to its fourth choice at level guard, No. 17 Kentucky is looking for some consistency general when it hosts Vanderbilt on Tuesday evening in Lexington, Ky.
In his first begin of the season, an 82-78 loss at Texas on Saturday, freshman Travis Perry completed with six factors and three assists in 28 minutes, and coach Mark Pope’s updates on the primary three choices Monday weren’t optimistic.
Lamont Butler is averaging 12.5 factors, 4.6 assists and a couple of.8 rebounds per recreation however gave solution to ongoing shoulder ache on Feb. 11. He has not returned to reside practices, Pope stated.
Jaxson Robinson (13.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.7 apg) is just not even utilizing his injured proper hand/wrist but, the coach stated.
Lastly, Arizona switch Kerr Kriisa was initially anticipated to return by now after foot surgical procedure, however Pope acknowledged the potential of Kriisa taking a medical redshirt season.
“Proper now, he is anxiously making an attempt to get again into this factor, and the restoration has in all probability been slightly slower than any of us would love,” Pope stated.
The Wildcats knocked off then-No. 5 Tennessee earlier than falling to Texas. They’ve misplaced 5 of their final eight video games within the rough-and-tumble Southeastern Convention.
Kentucky (17-8, 6-6 SEC) held a five-point lead over Texas with lower than 4 minutes to play however allowed a 14-1 run. Main scorer Otega Oweh had 20 factors and ahead Amari Williams added 18 factors and 12 boards, however a scarcity of backcourt depth and focus wore down the Wildcats.
“One of many issues that is been actually particular about our staff is we have executed an important job of form of being within the second, being onto the following play,” Pope stated.
“It has been a extremely good attribute of our staff. We simply weren’t our regular selves in that facet of the sport within the final three minutes and 45 seconds.”
Vanderbilt (17-8, 5-7) is available in after its personal irritating loss. The Commodores led host Tennessee 44-31 at halftime however stumbled late in an 81-76 defeat.
Junior Jason Edwards had 24 factors to tempo the Commodores, together with 6-for-10 capturing on 3-point makes an attempt, however Vanderbilt allowed the Volunteers to shoot 55.8 p.c from the ground, and 65.4 p.c within the second half. On its dwelling flooring, Vanderbilt had crushed Tennessee 76-75 on Jan. 18.
“We have some issues to repair, however on the identical time, I wish to ensure that folks know the way good Tennessee is,” Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington stated. “You may play very well and lose on this league. … We’re making an attempt to get each considered one of them, however a variety of our losses this yr, we’ve not performed poorly.”
Edwards has been significantly spectacular. The North Texas switch is averaging 17.6 factors per recreation and has scored in double digits in all however considered one of his 25 video games this season.
Vanderbilt defeated visiting Kentucky 74-69 on Jan. 25. The Wildcats misplaced regardless of controlling the boards 43-30 and seeing the Commodores shoot simply 4-for-11 from the foul line.
–Discipline Stage Media