Even with the injury bug biting hard, Kentucky is rolling.
The Wildcats notched their fifth straight win on Saturday, taking down Ole Miss 72-63 at Rupp Arena. That victory moves them to 5-2 in SEC play - a full game better than where they stood at this point last season - and they're showing signs of a team that’s starting to find its stride, even as they navigate some tough personnel losses.
But the win wasn’t the only storyline coming out of Lexington. After the game, head coach Mark Pope addressed the status of two key players: Kam Williams and Jaland Lowe - both sidelined and now officially headed for surgery.
Williams, who suffered a broken foot in Wednesday’s win over Texas, underwent surgery on Friday. The timeline for his return is still murky.
There’s some cautious optimism he might be able to return in March, but nothing is set in stone. For now, Kentucky will have to find ways to fill the void left by the dynamic forward, who brought energy and versatility to the rotation.
As for Lowe, his situation is a bit more clear-cut. He’s been out since going down against Mississippi State and is now set to have surgery as well.
That’s why he wasn’t on the bench Saturday. His recovery is expected to take about six months, which likely rules him out for the rest of the season.
If all goes well, he could be back in time for summer workouts and should be full-go by the start of fall camp.
Injuries like these would derail a lot of teams - especially ones relying on young talent and developing chemistry on the fly. But Kentucky’s managed to stay the course. They’ve tightened up defensively, moved the ball well on offense, and leaned on their depth to keep the momentum going.
Now sitting at 14-6 overall, the Wildcats are heading into a critical stretch. Up next is a trip to Nashville to face Vanderbilt on Tuesday night - a game they can’t afford to overlook. After that, they’ll face a tough test on the road against Arkansas next Saturday night.
With the SEC race heating up and March creeping closer, Kentucky’s resilience is being tested. So far, they’re answering the call.