Mark Pope shares injury updates on Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson

Will Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson suit up again for Kentucky this season? Mark Pope shared the latest on their injuries during his call-in radio show Monday evening with mostly good news — but not perfect news.

The best news came with Butler, who re-aggravated his shoulder injury in last week’s win over Tennessee and missed the matchup at Texas on Saturday. While he hasn’t returned to live, full-contact practice quite yet, the fifth-year senior is making progress.

His return will come down to pain tolerance, hoping to avoid another setback like the one suffered against the Volunteers.

“For Lamont, he’s actually moving pretty well,” Pope said. “He still hasn’t practiced with live play, but for him, it’s just a matter of how far along does he have to get where he could actually take a hit in the game? That’s the biggest question for him. That’s going to be a little bit of a guessing game. We’ll try and get him some live stuff in practice over the next week or so.”

As for Robinson, his situation is a bit murkier, but not totally grim. On one hand (no pun intended), he hasn’t played on his right shooting wrist since suiting up for the Wildcats in the win over South Carolina on February 2. On the other, he’s shooting with his left hand as he stays loose trying to prepare for his return — whenever that may be.

Pope was obviously joking, but he tossed out the idea of Robinson tying up his right hand and playing exclusively as a lefty against Vanderbilt on Wednesday.

“For Jax, he still hasn’t done anything with his right hand. He’s done a ton of left-handed shooting and probably unsurprisingly, he’s making a lot of shots left-handed,” Pope said. “So I am actually pushing him to just tie up the right wrist, just get that thing safe in a big cast, and let’s go just play lefty on Wednesday. I’m not sure he’s prepared to do that.”

“Goose (Givens) can coach him up?” Tom Leach joked back

“Yeah, we’re in negotiations right now trying to figure that. Those guys are working really hard to try and get better,” Pope said.

Dick Vitale doesn’t believe they’ll play at Alabama

Safe to assume neither will be ready against the Commodores. How about this weekend in Tuscaloosa? ESPN’s Dick Vitale actually shared an update on that Monday, posting on social media he had a conversation with Pope today and did not come away feeling either of the injured guards would be back in time for the rematch against Alabama.

“Sat. I join @karlravechespn & @CoachJimmyDykes 6 pm EST @KentuckyMBB vs @AlabamaMBB,” Vitale said. “Had chat with @CoachMarkPope today about his team & he is not sure when Lamont Butler & Jaxson Robinson will return from injuries. I Love Coach Pope’s positive attitude but it is a fact injuries have hurt CATS.”

Sat. I join @karlravechespn & @CoachJimmyDykes 6 pm EST @KentuckyMBB vs @AlabamaMBB . Had chat with @CoachMarkPope today about his team & he is not sure when Lamont Butler & Jaxson Robinson will return from injuries . I Love Coach Pope’s positive attitude but it is a fact…

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) February 17, 2025

Another week to get healthy, potentially. Cats will have to survive one way or another.