BREAKING: Mark Pope gives Scary injury updates after Kentucky beats Tennessee at Rupp Arena
Kentucky secured a 75-64 home victory over Tennessee on Tuesday night in front of an energetic Rupp Arena crowd, once again displaying the team’s resilience. By the final minutes, head coach Mark Pope’s squad was relying on center Amari Williams as its fourth option at point guard. The Wildcats were already shorthanded, with fifth-year guards Kerr Kriisa and Jaxson Robinson ruled out on Monday’s SEC injury report. Kriisa has been sidelined since Dec. 7 due to a foot injury sustained in Kentucky’s overtime win against Gonzaga in Seattle, while Robinson missed his first game of the season with a right wrist injury suffered in practice last Friday.
Kentucky also saw the brief return of fellow fifth-year guard Lamont Butler, who had missed three games with a left shoulder injury before playing in Saturday’s win over South Carolina. However, Butler’s return was cut short as he re-injured his shoulder with 8:40 remaining against Tennessee.
Despite celebrating a season sweep of the No. 5 Volunteers, the No. 15 Wildcats now face uncertainty regarding the health of Butler and Robinson. Pope provided updates on their injury status during his postgame press conference.
Lamont Butler injury update for UK basketball
As Kentucky secured its third consecutive win over Tennessee—a feat the program hadn’t achieved in 12 years—fans were most concerned about Lamont Butler’s injury. The fifth-year guard, who previously played at San Diego State, exited Tuesday’s game after reinjuring his left shoulder while battling for a loose ball. He did not return to the court.
Head coach Mark Pope, speaking to the Herald-Leader, described the moment as “super scary,” noting that Butler’s shoulder torqued awkwardly as he went down. Initially listed on Kentucky’s injury report Monday, Butler was later removed from it before Tuesday’s game. His shoulder injury first occurred on Jan. 14 in a win over Texas A&M, and he previously missed two games in December due to an ankle issue.
Despite dealing with the injury, Butler had played in losses to Alabama and Vanderbilt before sitting out three straight games. He returned Saturday against South Carolina, logging 23 minutes, and played 22 minutes against Tennessee before his setback.
Pope praised Butler’s effort, calling him “incredible” and “brave” for competing despite his limitations. Against Tennessee, Butler contributed six points on 3-of-6 shooting, along with four assists, three rebounds, and three steals—all without committing a turnover against the nation’s top-ranked defense (per KenPom).
Pope expressed hope that Butler can recover quickly, acknowledging his leadership and importance to the team. Prior to Tuesday, Butler had been averaging 12.9 points and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 40% from three-point range.
What’s the injury news for Kentucky basketball guard Jaxson Robinson?
Kentucky’s 75-64 victory over Tennessee on Tuesday night at Rupp Arena highlighted the Wildcats’ resilience, despite their mounting injury concerns. By the game’s conclusion, head coach Mark Pope’s squad had resorted to playing center Amari Williams at point guard.
Fifth-year guards Kerr Kriisa and Jaxson Robinson were ruled out Monday night via the SEC injury report. Kriisa has been sidelined since Dec. 7 due to a foot injury suffered in Kentucky’s overtime win against Gonzaga. Robinson, who had played every game this season, missed his first contest after injuring his right wrist in practice last Friday.
Lamont Butler’s return was also short-lived. After sitting out three straight games with a left shoulder injury, the fifth-year guard played against South Carolina on Saturday but reinjured his shoulder Tuesday with 8:40 remaining. While the No. 15 Wildcats celebrated sweeping No. 5 Tennessee, concerns lingered about Butler and Robinson’s recovery timelines.
Robinson’s wrist injury, sustained in a “scary” practice collision, was initially cleared by X-rays. He played 20 minutes against South Carolina but was unable to suit up against Tennessee. After the game, Pope expressed doubt about Robinson’s near-term availability, saying, “I’m not sure we’re going to get him back anytime soon.” Robinson, Kentucky’s second-leading scorer and minutes leader, had started all 23 games before Tuesday. Pope lamented Robinson’s absence, calling it heartbreaking for a player who has helped define the team’s identity.
On his Monday radio show, Pope described the ongoing injury management for Butler and Robinson as a daily challenge, emphasizing the team’s efforts to provide treatment and maximize their availability. While he remains hopeful for their recovery, he acknowledged that their status will be “touch and go” in the coming weeks.