Kentucky, now ranked No. 19 nationally, is set to conclude its home schedule Tuesday night at Rupp Arena with a matchup against LSU. This game offers the Wildcats, currently 19-10 overall and 8-8 in SEC play, an opportunity to rebound after a disappointing 16-point home loss to No. 1 Auburn. Meanwhile, LSU enters the contest at 14-15 overall and 3-13 in conference action.
Unfortunately for Kentucky, two key players have been ruled out for this matchup. Fifth-year guards Kerr Kriisa and Jaxson Robinson will both be sidelined. Following the Auburn game, head coach Mark Pope confirmed that Robinson is set to undergo wrist surgery on Wednesday, officially ending his season and, as a fifth-year player, concluding his college career. Robinson’s time on the court included three years under Pope’s guidance, spanning his time at both BYU and Kentucky.
Kriisa’s season also appears to be effectively over. The Estonian guard suffered a foot injury back in December during Kentucky’s dramatic overtime victory against Gonzaga. He had surgery but has not returned to action since. On his weekly radio show, Pope revealed that Kriisa still has a year of eligibility remaining and, therefore, will not participate in Kentucky’s Senior Night ceremony.
The updated SEC injury report for Tuesday’s game was released Monday night, with another update expected a few hours before tipoff. As of now, Kriisa and Robinson are the only Kentucky players listed, meaning the rest of the roster is available. Among those ready to play are Andrew Carr and Amari Williams.
Carr, a fifth-year forward who previously played at Delaware and Wake Forest, has returned to Kentucky’s starting lineup after dealing with a back injury earlier in the season. He has started the last four games, and his performance against Auburn was particularly strong, finishing with a season-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Williams, who spent four years at Drexel before transferring, appeared to hurt his right foot during Kentucky’s recent last-second win at Oklahoma. However, he played against Auburn, delivering a double-double with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists while also playing solid defense against Auburn star Johni Broome.
Additionally, Pope mentioned that fifth-year guard Lamont Butler is progressing well after missing six games due to a left shoulder injury. While Kentucky will feel Robinson’s absence, his teammates continue to appreciate his contributions. Williams emphasized how much Robinson meant to the team, highlighting his perseverance in playing through a significant wrist injury. Senior forward Ansley Almonor echoed similar sentiments, noting how quickly a player’s season or career can end.
On the LSU side, four players appear on the SEC injury report. Junior forward Jalen Reed is out for the season with a torn ACL suffered in early December. Freshman guard Vyctorius Miller and freshman forward Corey Chest are both doubtful for Tuesday’s game, while fifth-year guard Dji Bailey is listed as probable.
Miller, averaging 8.9 points per game, is one of LSU’s top scorers, ranking third among active players. Chest leads the team in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 boards per contest, while Bailey contributes 8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
LSU, sitting at 3-13 in conference play, is currently second-to-last in the SEC standings and is riding a three-game losing streak. Their latest defeat came at the hands of No. 24 Mississippi State.
This game also marks a homecoming for former Wildcat Daimion Collins, who now plays for LSU. Collins, who spent two seasons at Kentucky, missed last year’s LSU-Kentucky game due to a shoulder injury that later required surgery. Now, he returns to Rupp Arena for the first time as an opponent.
