Basketball seasons, like heavyweight fights, are won in the later rounds. Kentucky, sitting at 17-8 and 8th in the SEC, isn’t throwing in the towel just yet. The Wildcats have taken their hits, weathered injuries, and slipped in the standings—but March is where legacies are forged. Head coach Mark Pope knows it, and his latest update on the team’s health has reignited hope. The question now is: Can Kentucky get off the mat in time for a final push?

According to a post on X by Tristan Pharis, Pope recently shared updates on injured guards Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson. “Lamont is moving pretty well. It’s a matter of how far along does he have to get before he can take a hit in a live game,” Pope said. He admitted it’s a “guessing game” but remains hopeful Butler will be in live practice within the next week. As for Robinson, the situation remains uncertain. “He has yet to do anything with his right hand and has actually started shooting left-handed.”

The road to recovery has been anything but smooth for Butler. During Kentucky’s battle against No. 5 Tennessee, the 22-year-old guard suffered a shoulder injury while diving for a loose ball. He immediately left the game, later returning to the bench in a warm-up jacket. ESPN’s Molly McGrath reported that Butler was visibly in pain and confirmed that he had re-aggravated a previous shoulder injury.

Post the game, Pope acknowledged the severity of the situation. “Super scary. It was right in front of me. The second he went down, you could see as he extended out that he torqued his left shoulder a little bit. Exactly what we didn’t want to do.”

Through grit and pain, Butler has been a difference-maker for Kentucky. Even in limited minutes against Tennessee, he stuffed the stat sheet—six points, four assists, three rebounds, and three steals—before injury struck again. His absence forced Kentucky into a patchwork lineup, even leaning on center Amari Williams as a makeshift point guard. The Wildcats pulled off a 75-64 win, but with Butler averaging 12.5 points across 19 games, his long-term status could shape Kentucky’s season.

Mark Pope’s injury woes: Robinson’s absence leaves a void

Meanwhile, Robinson’s injury has left Kentucky without one of its most reliable scorers. The fifth-year guard injured his right wrist during practice and has been on the sidelines since. Pope admitted after the Tennessee game, “I’m not sure we’re going to get him back anytime soon, but I’m hoping, I’m praying, that we get him back sooner.”

Robinson has been instrumental for Kentucky this season, averaging 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game for the 23 games he has played for the Wildcats. His 38.1% shooting from beyond the arc has provided crucial spacing for the Wildcats’ offense. Before the injury, he had started all 23 games and made multiple three-pointers in his last eight appearances. Without him, Kentucky has had to adjust its offensive approach, often leaning on younger players to fill the void.

Pope remains cautiously optimistic about both players’ recoveries. “Timing wise and recovery wise, and there’s also a little bit of a guessing part, in terms of just the best medical treatment at the best time,” he said. “They’re both pretty serious injuries. The guys are desperate to play, and they’re desperate to get healthy, short-term and long-term, and kind of balancing all those out with the calendar.”

Beyond the X’s and O’s, Pope acknowledged the emotional toll these injuries have taken on Butler and Robinson. “I’m so sad for them. I’m sad for me. I’m sad for our team. But I’m sad for the guys,” Pope admitted. “You’re right here. You’re here, at Kentucky, we’re in it. You’ve done amazing things this season. And we have so much on the table right now that we can chase this year.”

With March Madness looming, Kentucky’s aspirations hinge on how quickly Butler and Robinson can return. Pope believes in their resilience and the training staff’s ability to get them back on the court. The Wildcats have weathered adversity before, and if their star guards can heal in time, Big Blue Nation might just see the SEC revival they’ve been waiting for.