Aaron Bradshaw returns to full-contact practice, out vs. Miami (FL)

Kentucky freshman Aaron Bradshaw wasn’t lying when he said he wouldn’t play against No. 8 Miami (FL) in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Tuesday. He also wasn’t lying when he said he’s been “working out with the team” and was nearing a return.

Those comments came on Instagram Live late Sunday. John Calipari confirmed Bradshaw’s status update during his call-in radio show on Monday, adding that he was officially a full-contact participant today.

And he looked good.

“We’ve had two good days of practice,” Calipari said ahead of Tuesday’s matchup. “Today, Aaron practiced, so that’s the first time in terms of going (full-contact). He did a little bit of everything. Now, he’s not ready to play tomorrow. … (But) he did good, looks fine. Practiced today and he’s dying to get in there. It’s good, it’s good stuff.”

When asked about his expected timeline for a return, Bradshaw said he wasn’t allowed to confirm a specific game or date, but put it another way: “I’ll give you weeks — like a week.”

No Miami, as Calipari made clear, but essentially anything from there is fair game. Kentucky’s next two matchups? Home vs. UNC Wilmington on Saturday, Dec. 2, then at Penn on Saturday, Dec. 9 — a homecoming opportunity for the Roselle, N.J. native. That matchup in Philadelphia is just ten minutes away from his old stomping grounds, Camden High School.

As for Kentucky’s other absent 7-footers, Calipari had good news on one, then bad with another.

Let’s start with the bad: Zvonimir Ivisic remains sick and the school has not heard back from the NCAA regarding his eligibility and potential clearance.

“Z’s been out, he’s been sick again,” he said. “I think part of it is, he’s in a different country, eating different food. And there’s probably some stuff floating around that his body isn’t used to attacking. I saw him today, it looked like he lost more weight. He did not practice. … And we’re just waiting for the NCAA stuff.”

Now for some good news: Ugonna Onyenso, who broke his foot in Toronto at the GLOBL JAM with the Wildcats this summer, is back on the floor doing some things. He’s obviously behind Bradshaw — Calipari previously said his return would come two weeks after the freshman’s debut — but he’s making progress nonetheless.

“Ugo is bouncing around, running and jumping,” he said.

Kentucky will still be shorthanded against a tough, top-10 opponent in Miami. All bets are off from that point forward, though, specifically with Aaron Bradshaw.