Kentucky basketball fans have seen this movie before. A big time prospect comes to town off an injury. He is going to play, he warms up with the team, but it's always next week, or next month. BBN didn't like the ending during that saga.
It all feels eerily similar to the Shaedon Sharpe saga, where "weeks" turned into months, and months turned into never stepping foot on the court. But that didn't stop him from practicing with the team.
Jayden Quaintance is currently dealing with swelling in the same knee where he tore his ACL at Arizona State. His last outing was bad, a 1-point, 18-minute struggle against Missouri, where he looked nothing like the player everyone knows he can be. The injury issue is real. But we are in a time where being cynical usually pays off in the long run.
National analysts like Jeff Goodman are already saying he is most likely done at Kentucky and will focus on the draft.
"Iffy for the near future. The soonest we’re gonna see him back is probably a week or two, and there’s a good chance he doesn’t come back this year. Who knows?"Jeff Goodman
But Mark Pope is not willing to concede that yet.
When asked about Quaintance's status for the Texas game tonight, Pope ruled him out but refused to close the door on the season.
"Yeah, he will not play tomorrow night, but he's making progress, and we're super optimistic. You know, he's kind of going through the process, and hopefully he'll be back soon. I know that's not very descriptive, but I'm trying to be protective of him."
The Malachi Moreno safety valve
If this were last year, the panic would be at a fever pitch. No one could replace what Amari Williams could do. But this year, Kentucky has an insurance policy that is paying out massive dividends, so far: Malachi Moreno.
While the world waits on Quaintance, Moreno has quietly become the rock of the rotation. In conference play, the freshman is averaging 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block in roughly 21 minutes per game. He isn't just filling space; he is impacting winning directly. Just look at the LSU jumper as the clock read all 0's.
Pope was quick to highlight that Moreno's growth is independent of Quaintance's injury, but admitted it sure helps to have him right now.
"Malachi is growing at a beautiful rate. He's growing statistically in performance and read-based understanding on the court, but he's also growing as a leader in the locker room and such a steadying force. So they're both true, we need JQ and Malachi growing so well."
The "Shaedon Sharpe" whispers aren't going to go away until Quaintance is back in a jersey and on the court playing like a lottery pick. But thanks to Malachi Moreno, Kentucky can afford to be patient a little while longer.