Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance has played in just 4 games this season, recovering from a torn ACL. He has had a rough opening to his SEC career, averaging just 3 points and 5 rebounds across 20 minutes a game in the 2 conference games for the Cats.
He won't be playing in a fifth game tomorrow.
Jayden Quaintance is officially out against Mississippi State
The Cats have lost 2 straight games after winning 4 straight, and the last game was crushing. After being ahead by 8 with just 4 minutes to go, the Cats fumbled down the stretch, allowing Missouri to close the game on a 15-2 run fueled by turnovers and bad shots.
BBN booed as Pope and the players left the court, the second time the players have faced boo birds this season, the first being the disaster against Gonzaga. This one hurt even more, as this was at home in Rupp, at least in Nashville, it was a neutral site.
Kentucky basketball needs a victory in the worst way
Quaintance, the most talented player on the Kentucky roster, will have to root for his teammates from the sideline as he did for the opening part of the season. No word on why he is out, the official injury report the SEC released just has him as out.
Mississippi State will come to Rupp 10-5, but 2-0 in conference. They are currently riding a 6-game winning streak after starting just 4-5. Josh Hubbard is averaging 23 a game for the Bulldogs and will look to light up Rupp, as a lot of volume shooters have done. He had 15 on just 5-16 shooting last season in Rupp. I wouldn't think that happens again. The first time he came to Rupp, he had 34. And this is a team that just let Alabama walk into open 3-point shots.
Quaintance's abscence will be felt the most on the boards, dealing with Quincy Ballard. Things go from bad to worse for the Cats.