It’s starting to feel less like a string of bad luck and more like a full-blown curse in Lexington. Kentucky’s injury situation has gone from frustrating to downright surreal, as the Wildcats continue to navigate a season where staying healthy has become as difficult as winning on the road in the SEC. What was once a deep, versatile roster has been chipped away piece by piece, leaving head coach Mark Pope with a constantly evolving rotation and a team that’s had to grow up quickly.
Jaland Lowe, Kam Williams, and Jayden Quaintance - three players expected to play major roles this season - are all out, either for the year or indefinitely. That’s a trio of likely starters gone. And yet, somehow, Kentucky has found a way to win six of its last seven games, capped by a gritty road victory at Arkansas that might be its most impressive performance of the season.
The Wildcats have leaned into continuity, even with a shortened bench. Roles are clearer.
The chemistry is clicking. But just when it feels like things are stabilizing, the injury report throws another wrench into the mix.
Let’s start with Otega Oweh, who’s been nothing short of sensational lately. The senior guard has been battling an ankle injury, and his practice time was limited leading into the Arkansas game.
You wouldn’t have known it from watching him play, though. Oweh dropped 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting, grabbed eight boards, dished out three assists, and played 38 minutes in the win.
He was everywhere - defending, attacking, leading - and doing it all while clearly not at 100%.
“If we went to overtime, we probably would have tried to play him 43,” Pope said on his weekly radio show. “He’s playing so good - you think about it, he shot 75 percent from the field.
He had one of the toughest defensive assignments that you could have in college basketball today and guard an elite-, elite-level player in Darius Acuff, and doing it in a hostile place. He was absolutely terrific.”
This isn’t a one-off, either. Oweh’s been on a tear for the better part of two months, stepping into a leadership role and delivering night after night.
And with a matchup against Oklahoma looming - a team he famously hit two game-winners against last season - don’t expect a rolled ankle to keep him off the floor. Pope said he was cautious with Oweh in practice again this week, but expects him to be full-go on Tuesday.
The injury saga doesn’t end there. Braydon Hawthorne, the 6-foot-8 freshman who’s been the subject of ongoing redshirt discussions, had been turning heads in practice.
There was a real chance he could suit up this season and provide some much-needed frontcourt depth. But in keeping with the theme of this season, Hawthorne rolled his ankle in practice, putting his short-term availability in question.
“It’s not off the table,” Pope said, when asked about potentially pulling Hawthorne’s redshirt. “The dynamics of our roster change every single day.
BH was actually terrific in practice today until he sprained his ankle, so we’ll see. We’ll see how that goes.”
It’s a fitting summary of Kentucky’s season so far: every time the Wildcats seem to catch a break, another setback appears. But to their credit, this team hasn’t folded.
They’ve adjusted, adapted, and kept winning. That resilience - led by veterans like Oweh and supported by a coaching staff that’s stayed flexible - is what’s keeping Kentucky in the hunt.
The road ahead isn’t getting any easier. But if there’s one thing this team has shown, it’s that they’re not going to let a few sprained ankles - or even a full injury list - define their season.