Adou Thiero returns for Kentucky, Rob Dillingham out (sick)

As promised, Adou Thiero is back for Kentucky with the Wildcats set to take on Arkansas in Fayetteville.

John Calipari said this week that if the sophomore forward practiced Thursday and Friday, he’d be available Saturday against the Razorbacks. And that’s exactly how things unfolded, Thiero officially ready to return after a seven-game absence.

Coach Cal confirmed the 6-8 forward’s return ahead of the matchup on his pregame conversation with Tom Leach.

That’s the good news. The bad news, though, is that Kentucky is dealing with a few issues elsewhere. Calipari confirmed Rob Dillingham is sick while Justin Edwards is banged up, hurting his knee in practice Friday. The former has been declared out while the latter will give it a go.

“This morning, Robert woke up with a stomach virus. So I sent him home from the shootaround,” Calipari said. “I told him, ‘Look, if you can’t go — this ain’t the game.’ So he told the trainer, ‘There’s no way I’ll be able to play.’ So we’re without him. … Justin hurt his leg (in practice Friday), so I’m not going to start him. He’ll get a chqnce to go in there and see if he’s healthy enough to go.”

Kentucky hoped to be at full strength with Thiero back, but that will not be the case with Dillingham out for the Cats and Edwards banged up, unfortunately.

Next man up. Time to pick up some roadkill.