As Kentucky prepares for a pivotal SEC road matchup at South Carolina, the Wildcats’ injury situation remains a major storyline — and it’s not improving.
Head coach Mark Pope is once again expected to have only nine healthy scholarship players available for Tuesday night’s game at Colonial Life Arena. According to the initial SEC availability report, Jaland Lowe, Jayden Quaintance and Kam Williams are all listed as out. It will mark the ninth straight game that all three have been sidelined.
The Injury Breakdown
Jaland Lowe
The junior guard is out for the season after undergoing surgery to address recurring right shoulder injuries. His absence has left Kentucky thin in the backcourt for much of SEC play.
Jayden Quaintance
The highly regarded sophomore forward will miss his 13th consecutive game. Quaintance continues to recover from knee complications related to the torn ACL he suffered in February 2025 while at Arizona State.
Despite being Kentucky’s top transfer portal addition in the offseason, he has played in just four games for the Wildcats and hasn’t appeared in a contest since Jan. 7.
Mark Pope made it clear recently that there is no timetable being rushed.
“He is not ready right now. He’s not ready, and we’re not gonna roll him out there until he’s 100%,” Pope said.
Kam Williams
Williams is also recovering from surgery after breaking his left foot during Kentucky’s Jan. 21 win over Texas. Tuesday will be his ninth straight missed game.
Pope offered a slightly more hopeful outlook regarding Williams’ potential return — but only if Kentucky’s season extends deep enough into March.
“The timeline is tight… There’s a real chance that at some point, if we extend the season out long enough, that he can come back and help us,” Pope said. “And we’re excited for that to happen.
With just four regular-season games remaining — including Tuesday’s contest — the window for a return is shrinking quickly. The SEC Tournament begins March 11 in Nashville, followed by the NCAA Tournament’s first round on March 19.
Fatigue Becoming a Factor
The shortened rotation has created additional challenges. Pope has repeatedly referenced fatigue as a growing issue for his team, particularly during the grind of SEC play.
Even with depth concerns, freshman Braydon Hawthorne and junior Reece Potter have not seen action, as both are preserving redshirt seasons.
South Carolina Also Dealing With Absence
The Gamecocks will be without senior guard Myles Stute, who has started 23 games this season. Stute averages 6.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 31.4% from three-point range on more than four attempts per contest. His absence removes an experienced perimeter option from South Carolina’s lineup.
Game Details
Kentucky enters the matchup at 17-10 overall and 8-6 in SEC play, fighting to solidify its postseason positioning. South Carolina stands at 12-15 overall and 3-11 in conference games.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday in Columbia, with the game airing on SEC Network. An updated availability report is expected around 5 p.m.
With March approaching and depth still an issue, Kentucky’s margin for error continues to shrink — and the pressure is only building.
