'Only a matter of time' before Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson make returns for Kentucky

Mark Pope announced both Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson were back at practice for Kentucky to begin the week — albeit in a ‘modified’ role. Limited capacity or not, it’s a step in the right direction for the injured Wildcats with the regular season winding down and postseason play set to begin.

“They were actually pretty functional in the limited work that they did today. Certainly, they’re both on the uptick,” Pope said Monday. “We’re hopeful about both of them.”

Robinson has been out with a wrist injury since Kentucky’s win over South Carolina on Feb. 8 while Butler has not played since the Tennessee win on Feb. 11, out since with a shoulder injury. What was it like seeing the team’s second- and third-leading scorers back on the floor? Their teammates said they looked like themselves again with a return to game action on the horizon.

“It’s nice to have them working back into things, and we want them back on the court as much as the fans do, and as much as they want to be back on the court. So we’re looking forward to that,” Collin Chandler said Tuesday. “… They’ve been in in a few modified practices and, I mean, they’re as good as ever. It’s not like they haven’t played basketball in a long time. They’ll be back to where they need to be whenever the time is right, whenever they get the go-ahead.”

“They looked good,” Otega Oweh added. “They’re trying their hardest to get back out there, but they look good. They’re working really hard, doing a lot of rehab and stuff like that. I feel like it’s only a matter of time before they get back out there.”

It hasn’t been a total disaster for the Wildcats in that stretch, going 3-2 dating back to that win over the Gamecocks when Robinson’s absence began. Even in losses at Texas and Alabama, the team as a whole has seen the likes of Chandler, Travis Perry and Trent Noah emerge as trustworthy pieces on the floor after starting the year as end-of-rotation players only receiving spot minutes.

Oh, and the defense has improved to No. 62 nationally in that span, a 50-spot jump since the loss at Ole Miss right before Robinson and Butler both went down. Kentucky has had the No. 11 defense in the country in those five games, good for sixth among high-majors.

All of that is going to pay off tenfold when two of the most valuable players on the roster suit up again.

“This period of time we haven’t had Jaxson or Lamont, we’ve gotten better, like, collectively and individually,” Oweh said. “Guys like Collin, Travis and Trent have stepped up huge and they’re doing great things. That just adds to our resume and our roster in terms of how deep we are. In March, you need that.”

“Me, Travis and Trent have gotten some great experience in some big games against top-five opponents, those have been great learning experiences for us for when we are needed to step up and really just as basketball players playing in this league,” Chandler added. “I think the last few weeks have been great for our development, for our learning, and hopefully that will benefit our team going into March.”

Just how much better can the team be with the guard duo back on the floor? On one hand, it’s the defensive continuity, adding a truly elite threat to the mix when things are improving quickly as is.

“Lamont is the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life, so obviously he helps a lot with our defensive energy,” Chandler said.

On the other, it’s about what’s next, both players experienced in the NCAA Tournament. They’re glue guys and leaders capable of guiding the Wildcats on this upcoming run in March.

Again, that’s why you bring in a guy like Butler, who has a game-winner in the Final Four under his belt. As valuable as he’s been this season, this is his time.

“It’s going to affect me too, because I haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament yet,” Oweh said. “Those guys, they’re vets and they’ve gone on runs — especially Lamont and what he’s done at San Diego State. He obviously knows what it takes to win and how he has to lead for every single possession and every single play.

“When Lamont goes and shows that and leads by example, I feel we all have to. He’s done a great job of doing that.”

Minor setbacks for major comebacks.