AVAILABILITY REPORT: Kentucky remains shorthanded at Alabama

Mark Pope shared good news on Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson ahead of Kentucky‘s trip to Tuscaloosa, the pair of guards returning to practice for the Wildcats in varying capacities. The former (shoulder) got into ‘a little bit of live action’ on Friday while the latter (wrist) did ‘skill stuff’ before the flight left for Alabama.

Are either ready to return to game action as the Cats take on the Tide on Saturday? Not yet, unfortunately.

Both Butler and Robinson have been ruled out for Kentucky, the expected becoming official in the initial availability report released Friday evening. Kerr Kriisa remains out with a broken foot for the Wildcats, as well, putting three players on the report with just nine available in Title Town.

“Certainly, we’re missing pieces. We would love to get them back,” Pope said of Butler and Robinson on Friday. “We hope we get them back at some point, but in the meantime, we’re going to go compete with what we have and we’re going to do it well.”

Butler is currently averaging 12.5 points, 4.6 assists and 2.8 rebounds per contest while shooting career-highs overall (50.9 percent) and from three (38.5 percent) in 19 games played. As for Robinson, he’s second on the team with 13.3 points to go with 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 23 total games played. They combined for 28 points in the first head-to-head matchup vs. Alabama in Lexington back on January 18.

For Alabama, Latrell Wrightsell Jr., Derrick Reid and Houston Mallette have all been declared out while superstar guard Mark Sears is probable.

The new SEC policy states that players must be listed as “out” (0% chance to play), “doubtful” (25% chance to play), “questionable” (50% chance to play), or “probable” (75% chance to play) in reports prior to game days. On the final report, players will be designated as “available,” “game-time decision” or “out” in an effort to provide additional clarity.

Kentucky vs. Alabama: How to Watch, Listen

• Date, Time: Saturday, 6:00 p.m. EST
• Television: ESPN (Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes, Dick Vitale)
• Home Radio: UK Sports Network – 630 WLAP, iHeart Radio (Tom Leach, Goose Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 84 (UA Radio) or 191 (UK Radio)
• Live Stats: StatBroadcast

You can also follow the game via our new LIVE BLOG on the website, which will begin an hour before tip-off, or join the conversation on KSBoard

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