Is a roster overhaul incoming? The Kentucky Wildcats have had a good season, no doubt about that. But if you thought injuries were the biggest hurdle for Mark Pope in his first year, well, buckle up. Because next season might hit even harder. We’ve seen Kerr Kriisa sidelined for most of the season with a foot injury, Lamont Butler battling a shoulder setback, and now, Jaxson Robinson is out for the season with a wrist injury. That’s already tough. But the upcoming offseason might be even rougher for Pope.

Tuesday night marks Senior Night at Rupp Arena, and a long list of key Wildcats will be honored: Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Ansley Almonor, Koby Brea, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams. That’s a whole lot of talent set to walk out the door. 

With the UK entering its final week of the regular season—facing LSU at home and Missouri on the road—this is their last chance to win at home before the postseason grind begins. And reality hit hard when Jaxson Robinson posted a story with a smiling Andrew Carr giving a thumbs-up in the arena. We could also see the head coach in the background. With the picture, he wrote a four-word caption that said it all: “Last practice at Rupp. 😢”

But truly, losing all these guys is massive. Robinson, Kentucky’s second-leading scorer, has been a bucket all year. He ends his last year with 13 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game while shooting a solid 43.2% from the field and 37.6% from three. 

Carr is chipping in 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, and you could feel the gap when he wasn’t on the floor. Meanwhile, Butler—one of UK’s most reliable guys—is putting up 12.4 points per game, all while dealing with that nagging shoulder injury. 

And then there’s Koby Brea—the sniper. Any time Kentucky needed a big shot, he was there to deliver. Almonor stepped up big-time when Robinson went down, proving he could be a steady scorer and defender. And Amari Williams is a defensive beast while contributing in the paint. 

Hence, losing all of them at once? Yes, that’s a whole lot of production walking out the door. Pope’s got some serious work ahead.

But wait, not all hope is lost. 

Could Kerr Kriisa be Mark Pope’s returning senior?

There might be a silver lining in the form of Kerr Kriisa. The injured Kentucky point guard won’t be taking part in Senior Night festivities, which has everyone buzzing. 

On his weekly radio show, Pope revealed that Kriisa has another year of eligibility left. “We walked into the season thinking Kerr was going to exhaust his eligibility this year, but he didn’t,” Pope said. “He’s got another year left, which is so fantastic for all of us, right?” That’s one way to look at it.

Kriisa hasn’t seen action since December 7 after suffering a fractured foot against Gonzaga. At the time, it wasn’t supposed to be a season-ending injury, but here we are. If he officially applies for a medical redshirt—which, by NCAA rules, he qualifies for—he could return for another season. But even if he’s eligible, there’s no guarantee he actually comes back. That decision is still up in the air.

So, what’s next for Kentucky? The Wildcats already have commitments from top-tier backcourt recruits Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis, both expected to play major on-ball roles next season. 

On top of that, UK is likely to hit the transfer portal for a veteran, defense-first point guard, someone who can fill the gap left by Butler and, potentially, Kriisa. But still, that’s a serious rebuild. So yes, Kentucky is losing big. There’s no sugarcoating that.

However, between incoming recruits and a possible Kriisa return, Pope might just have enough to keep this ship afloat.