Two fast-paced teams. The first SEC showdown of the season. One team undefeated, the other battle-tested with a tough schedule. Kentucky vs Florida will be one to remember. Florida comes into this game undefeated, but Kentucky is no slouch, boasting big wins over some of the nation’s top teams. 

Both teams will bring their A-game to Rupp Arena. Tip-off is at 11:00 AM ET on January 4. So, now let’s get into the injury reports because, as always, injuries could have a big impact on this game. 

According to the reports released, for now, Florida’s injury report is clean—no players are listed, so they’ll be going into this SEC opener at full strength. Kentucky, on the other hand, has a notable absence: fifth-year senior guard Kerr Kriisa. He will be sidelined for this big showdown. As for the starting five, the projected lineup is as follows-

Florida Gators:

1. Walter Clayton Jr. (Guard)
2. Alijah Martin (Guard) 
3. Will Richard (Guard) 
4. Alex Condon (Forward)
5. Rueben Chinyelu (Center) 

Kentucky Wildcats:

1. Lamont Butler (Guard) 
2. Otega Oweh (Guard)
3. Jaxson Robinson (Guard)
4. Andrew Carr (Forward) 
5. Amari Williams (Center) 

Although the entire matchup is going to be thrilling for sure, you must keep an eye on two specific players. The first one is Walter Clayton Jr. from Gators. This senior guard is averaging 17 points per game, but he’s been quiet as of late, scoring 12 or fewer points in the last three games. Hence, With a limited role recently, he’ll be looking to step up big-time against Kentucky’s high-octane offense.

On the flip side, you have Kentucky’s Lamont Butler, a seasoned guard who’s been playing out of his mind this season. Averaging 13 points, 4 assists, and nearly 2 steals per game. Butler’s going to be crucial to Kentucky’s success in this game, especially with Kriisa sidelined. 

Now, you must be wondering where to watch these powerhouses battle it out. Well, you can catch all the action on ESPN, with the game also available for streaming on Fubo (but with regional restrictions). While what will go down is on everyone’s mind, we do have some predictions. 

According to Fox Sports, Kentucky comes in as the favorite with a 60.8% chance to win. The Wildcats are projected to win 85-82, covering the 1.5-point spread. The Gators, on the other hand, have a 43.5% chance to win according to the odds. But as always, anything can happen.

Especially because Kentucky’s offense is going to miss Kerr Kriisa. His absence will definitely be felt, especially with how much he contributes to the flow of the offense.

Kentucky Wildcats: How long will Kerr Kriisa Be out?

Kerr Kriisa’s injury is a major blow to Kentucky’s plans for this season. Kriisa suffered a Jones Fracture on his foot during a game against Gonzaga in early December. The veteran guard had been performing well, averaging around 4.4 points per game. 

His absence will leave a gap, especially when it comes to running the offense and hitting 3-pointers. Mark Pope, Kentucky’s head coach, gave an update on Kriisa’s condition, saying, “In my mind, he’s a game-time decision for Saturday, but sometimes I live in a little bit of a fantasy land. We’ll see.” 

Pope knows how big of a loss this is. He also mentioned the toll this injury has taken on Kriisa personally. “It was devastating for him, for sure. Like, devastating,” he said. “He loves competing so much, and I don’t think his life quite feels right without being able to compete.”

Kriisa’s energy on the court will be missed, but he’ll have to find other ways to stay engaged with the team while he recovers. His expected return is set for mid-to-late January, so we’ll have to wait a little longer to see him back on the floor.

This game is going to be a must-watch, though—no matter who’s on the court. Let’s see how the Wildcats perform without Kriisa and if the Gators can keep their undefeated streak alive.