When Kam Williams went down with a broken foot, the Cats' head coach said he believed he could come back this season. The timeline was always going to be tight; with the injury happening on January 21, the 5-7-week timeline (on the fast end) would be really tested. But it sounds like Pope believes that if the team can get deep enough in the tournament, Williams may see the court again this year.
But can they go that far? That remains to be seen. But Pope has some hope.
Mark Pope provides a hopeful update on Kam Williams' return timeline
"Yes, I've been really vague, right? But there's a real chance that at some point, if we extend the season out long enough, he comes back and helps us, and we're excited for that to happen."
The reporter followed up by asking if Kam has spent the last few weeks soaking up the knowledge of the staff and players from the bench.
"I think he's doing a good job. The interesting thing about Kam, one of his superpowers, is that he is so great regardless of what's happening in the game. I hearken back to games early in the season where he didn't really play at all in the first half and then got some minutes in the second half, and he'd been unbelievable on the bench, full of enthusiasm, and then came into the game and had a huge impact. That's how he earned himself a starting spot and why he grew so much. So, I think he takes all this in, and I think he's excited to get back."
Contrast that with Jayden Quaintance, who is not even practicing; there is at least a little bit of hope Williams could come back this year. But if the timeline holds, it would be really hard to run him back out there with little to no practice time. If he is practicing by March 1, maybe he gets a chance. But it would be hard-pressed if it went much further beyond that. It would be too hard to reintegrate him back in the lineup and get him up to game speed.
With the transfer portal, you never know how things will shake out; he may even decide to leave Lexington after just one year. But it looks like there is at least a chance he suits again this year.