KenPom is confident in the Cats. Bart Torvik is too. FanDuel is also rolling with Kentucky. While Mark Pope & Co. must still be dealing with the 16-point home loss to Auburn on Saturday, they have no time to waste. See…to be fair, Auburn is a no. 1 team, and losing to the top is pretty understandable. But this season, the Tigers find themselves near the bottom of the SEC standings with a 14-15 record, a far cry from their usual dominance.

With Senior Day marking the last home game of the regular season, Kentucky has a chance to not only honor its veterans but also finish strong and push above .500 in conference play. So, how does Tuesday look in terms of injuries and lineups for both teams?

Who’s in & who’s out

The Wildcats have confirmed that Coach Mark Pope will be without two key players for the upcoming game. Fifth-year guards Kerr Kriisa and Jaxson Robinson are out. While Kriisa has been sidelined for months, Robinson’s season-ending wrist injury still stings. Losing your second-leading scorer right before March? Yes, not ideal.

LSU, though, isn’t exactly in perfect shape either. The SEC injury report lists four Tigers, including key players like Jalen Reed and Vyctorius Miller, and Corey Chest as doubtful. Fifth-year guard Dji Bailey, however, is probable, with a 75% chance to play against UK.

Projected starting Lineups

Based on recent performances and available information, the projected starting lineups are as follows

Kentucky Wildcats

– Lamont Butler  

– Otega Oweh  

– Koby Brea  

– Andrew Carr  

– Amari Williams  

LSU Tigers

– Curtis Givens III  

– Cam Carter  

– Vyctorius Miller  

– Dji Bailey  

– Daimion Collins  

And let’s reiterate, this is a must-win for Kentucky. But it’s also going to be an emotional one because coach Pope is about to say goodbye to a whole lot of talent. According to ESPN’s Jay Bilas, Kentucky’s depth will be tested, but the emergence of Lamont Butler and Otega Oweh as reliable scorers could tilt the balance.

Kentucky has faced adversity before, and Coach John Calipari has a history of rallying his squad when the chips are down. With Kriisa potentially returning next season, there’s hope for a smooth transition despite the impending senior exodus.

Mark Pope’s senior exodus

Tuesday night at Rupp Arena isn’t just another game, it’s Senior Night, and six major Wildcats are set to be honored: Lamont Butler, Jaxson Robinson, Ansley Almonor, Koby Brea, Andrew Carr, and Amari Williams. That’s a huge loss right there. 

Robinson is a certified bucket, averaging 13 points per game before his season-ending injury, a brutal end to his collegiate career. Carr is reliable as ever, giving the team 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds a night. Butler is the definition of toughness, putting up 12.4 points despite battling a nagging shoulder injury. Brea is the sniper and a go-to guy, the fourth leading scorer. Almonor has proved that he could hold his own. Last but not the least, Williams is a defensive beast.

So, this is certainly going to hurt the coach. But wait, it might not hurt too much though.

Kerr Kriisa isn’t taking part in Senior Night festivities, and that’s got people talking. Why? Because he could come back next season. Kriisa hasn’t played since December 7 after suffering a fractured foot against Gonzaga. 

If he applies for a medical redshirt (which, by NCAA rules, he qualifies for), he could suit up for Kentucky next season. Yes, Kentucky is losing a ton of firepower. But the head coach isn’t walking into next year empty-handed. 

The Wildcats have already secured commitments from Jasper Johnson and Acaden Lewis—two elite backcourt recruits. So yeah, the Wildcats are saying goodbye to some big names. But if Mark Pope plays his cards right, this ship isn’t sinking anytime soon.

Kentucky’s journey to March Madness begins with a must-win against LSU. With emotions running high on Senior Night and a roster in flux, the Wildcats must find the balance between honoring their departing stars and securing their postseason fate.

If they can channel that energy into a win, Kentucky might just be poised for a run when the madness of March truly begins