Kentucky coach Mark Pope gives injury update on Jayden Quaintance
By Mark Kern
Published:
Kentucky coach Mark Pope and the Wildcats have been up-and-down this season, but have rattled off three straight SEC wins as they prepare for a matchup against Texas on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats have had to play for most of the season without Jayden Quaintance, who has played in only four games this year. While he is getting closer to playing, Pope said that Quaintance will be unable to go against Texas.
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He transferred to Kentucky from Arizona State after a freshman season where he was one of the best defensive players in the country. Last season, he finished with 9.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game.
Quaintance played in the first two games of the SEC season against Alabama and Missouri, but has been out since then as he is dealing with knee swelling.
The expectation entering the season was that he would anchor the defense for the Wildcats, and be an eraser at the rim. That would allow the wings to be even more aggressive on the perimeter, as they have one of the elite shot blockers in the country as the final line of defense.
While he won’t play against Texas, there is optimism that he is getting closer to being able to play. The Wildcats will be back at home against Ole Miss on Saturday, and it is possible they could have their star back then.
