Adou Thiero's absence hurting Kentucky on both ends: "It's been felt."

Kentucky men’s basketball sure could have used Adou Thiero against Texas A&M over the weekend. The 6-foot-8 sophomore wing might just be the Wildcats’ top perimeter defender on a team that is in desperate need of more. On the other end of the floor, the ability to bully his way to the rim on offense and generate free throws is unlike anything his teammates can do.

But he hasn’t played since Dec. 21 against Louisville. Thiero has missed four straight with a back injury and there’s still no timeline on a possible return.

“Yeah, it’s still day-to-day,” Calipari said during his radio show on Monday about Thiero’s status. “He did not practice today, so it’s still day-to-day.”

With a game set for Wednesday night against Mississippi State in Rupp Arena, it’s sounding more and more likely that Thiero will sit out his fifth game in a row. Kentucky severely missed his activity on offense and defense against Texas A&M. The Wildcats probably don’t give up 97 points if Thiero is roaming the court.

Thiero’s absence on both ends of the floor has hurt Kentucky, which has allowed the opponent to score 82.3 points per game since he left the rotation. That number was just 73.7 points per game in the 11 contests before then.

Granted, that was against mostly weaker competition, but Kentucky doesn’t have anyone right now they can rely on to stop the other team’s best player. Thiero is normally that guy. That’s how you get two Aggies combining to score 59 points.

“It’s been felt. It’s been felt,” Associate coach Orlando Antigua said on Tuesday about missing Thiero. “Not just on the defensive side but just his physicality and his ability to create off the bounce and get some opportunities on the offensive glass as well. Just his toughness and his nose for the ball.”

Thiero is also just a tough, reliable player who brings layers to Kentucky that others can’t. Through 10 games played this season, he’s averaging 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds on 52.9 percent shooting. If he qualified, his 49 percent free throw rate would rank among the best in the country. Only Tre Mitchell statistically rebounds the ball at a higher rate than Thiero.

Compared to his freshman season in 2022-23, Thiero is simply a brand-new ball player. A ball player who is still growing too (which might help explain why he’s still dealing with minor back issues). Looking at his growth from a freshman to a sophomore, the production is a night-and-day difference.

“It’s a year of experience. It’s a year of understanding. It’s a year of physically maturing,” Antigua said. “It’s a year of going in and prepping in the summer for what you’re gonna be expected to perform, how you’re expected to perform. Those kind of things. That helps. You get a little older, a little wiser. That certainly helps.”

Kentucky could certainly use Thiero’s help right about now, too. He’s not going to suddenly make the Wildcats an excellent defensive or rebounding team once he does come back, but he definitely won’t make them any worse in those areas.

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