Kentucky fans received a bit of good news today as Mark Pope previewed the Wildcats’ rematch with Alabama.

Asked about the status of Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, Pope had positive news to share rather than the not-so-good news he is growing accustomed to providing over recent weeks.

“Lamont is going to get a little bit of live action today,’ Pope said. “Jax (Jaxson Robinson) is gonna be in some skill stuff today”

This is a very promising update for Kentucky as they are doing everything they can to get healthy for a run in March. However, it does sound like we are closer to a return of Lamont Butler than we are seeing Jaxson Robinson return.

Although the update did seem promising, it shouldn’t be expected for either player to suit up against Alabama. That said, an injury report will be released around 7 PM eastern tonight.

At this point in time, the most crucial thing is getting Lamont Butler, and Jaxson Robinson back healthy for a postseason run in March. Although Kentucky has had bright spots without Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson, it is clear that they have missed both of these guys. Pope seems more hopeful with each day that we will see these guys back in uniform in the pretty near future.

The Cats will be back in action tomorrow at 6 PM on ESPN against an Alabama team who will be hungry after a road loss to Missouri.

Among a wave of feel-good storylines in the wake of Kentucky’s ranked home win over Tennessee last week, completing the season sweep, Koby Brea’s playmaking towards the end of the second half was the nail in the Volunteers’ coffin.

On back-to-back possessions, Brea led the charge with a depleted Wildcats offense, following the re-aggravation of Lamont Butler’s shoulder injury and the continued absence of Jaxson Robinson and Kerr Kriisa.

First, “Fuego,” as he’s been lovingly dubbed by the Big Blue Nation, executed a clutch step-back triple to extend Kentucky’s lead to six, 68-62. Then, after a defensive stop, Brea slashed into the lane and threw a no-look-lob to Otega Oweh that essentially sealed the deal.

Kentucky led 70-62 with just over a minute to go, and would ultimately get out with a double-digit win, 75-64.

Bucket List Buckets

Asked about the deciding stretch after the game, Brea emphasized staying calm, and how the moment is the stuff of childhood dreams.

“I play hard throughout the game on both ends,” he said. “When it’s time for me to shoot, I have to just relax a little bit. That’s the one moment in the game where I’m just going to take my time and breathe a little bit.”

Brea finished the game with 11 points and shot a scorching 50% metric (3/6) from the three-point line. Whatever he’s doing, he’s doing it right.

“It felt good,” he said regarding his third, and most crucial, triple. “To hit shots like that in such a big moment, in such a big game, it’s stuff that you dream of as a little kid.”

“It made me feel really good, and it just goes to show all the work that I’ve put in, and how confident I am in that moment, and how confident my team is in that moment with me as well… they knew I was going to go to work, and that meant a lot to me as well.”

With both Robinson and Butler likely to remain out against Texas on Saturday, Kentucky will likely rely on Brea to start, and produce, once more. No matter how tough the SEC has proven to be, this Kentucky team has responded every time; the “next man up” mentality in Lexington is like no other.

The “get-back” game, as they call it. After losing to Vanderbilt in Nashville last month, Kentucky evened the season slate between the ‘Cats and Commodores at home in an 82-61 win, including a chasmic 41-21 advantage in the second half.

Picture Perfect

While the Wildcats will take away much positivity from the win, the most glaring highlight is Amari Williams’ perfection from both the field and the free throw line; he tallied 17 points on 6/6 and 5/5 splits. For perspective, Williams is the first basketball player in college or the NBA to have such a stat line since Hall of Famer Pau Gasol in 2010.

Williams’ strong performance is only the latest in a long line of memorable games for the senior transfer. In January, he became only the fourth Wildcat in program history to log a triple-double, doing so on the road in the loss to Ole Miss.

In addition to that flawless performance, Collin Chandler rose to new heights in what was undoubtedly his best performance of the season thus far, too.

Chandler entered the game early as the first substitution off the bench, sinking a three on his first possession and not once looking back. In 15 minutes, Chandler scored seven points, grabbed six boards, and added two assists and steals, to boot.

It Takes A Team

Despite standout individual performances, Kentucky’s pivotal victory took the entire team, battling through their persistent injury issues (which cost them three players tonight) ahead of an ominous, ever-brutal SEC schedule.

“Kentucky was on a high level today,” admitted Commodores’ head coach Mark Byington following the game.

“I thought Pope put them in a great spot to be successful, and those guys executed… I thought Kentucky was great tonight.”

As far as what Coach Pope himself had to say, he made sure to give his guys flowers.

“I thought Collin gave us a massive boost tonight, energy-wise… the plays he made today, he’s been making in practice, and he is going to help us in a huge way down the stretch. I was really proud of him tonight,” he said.

And Amari? “Amari decided he wasn’t passing the ball tonight,” Pope joked.

“Amari right now is top 5 all-time in the SEC in terms of PAR (points plus assists plus rebounds)… that’s insane what we’re witnessing him do. I thought he was brilliant tonight.”

“He’s grown so much, and he’s taken on so much, and he’s just like “Give me more.””

With their backs against the wall, Kentucky continues to battle until the bell rings. Now 18-8 (7-6) on the year, the ‘Cats have five more games before the madness begins. Their next test comes in the form of fourth-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa this Saturday.

But for the time being, Vanderbilt was a must-win, and win Kentucky did.