Kentucky head coach Mark Pope has finally broken his silence on Trent Noah’s status ahead of Friday’s matchup with Valparaiso — and his update might surprise a lot of fans.
After missing the second half of Tuesday’s win over Nicholls with an ankle injury, Noah’s availability remains uncertain. Pope called the sharpshooting freshman a “toss-up” for Friday, hinting that Kentucky could choose caution over risk as they prepare for a brutal upcoming stretch.
> “I expect he’s going to be back soon,” Pope said. “I don’t think we’ll practice him today. I don’t know if he’ll be available tomorrow. It’s probably a toss-up whether he will be or not. I’m leaning toward saving him and just getting him healthy. The one complicated thing about guys like him — I love having players like this — is that he’ll never tell you he’s in pain. Ever.”
Despite the concern, Noah looked strong during warmups against Nicholls — jogging, cutting, and testing his ankle without much visible discomfort. But Pope made it clear that his priority is keeping Noah fresh for the upcoming rivalry showdown with Louisville.
Pope even shared a behind-the-scenes moment that showed just how tough Noah really is.
> “One of the assistants came up to me and said, ‘Trent’s good to go,’” Pope recalled. “And I was like, ‘That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. He’s the toughest dude I know, but he’s in a lot of pain.’ I went to our trainer Brandon Wells, and he said Trent ran, cut, said he felt fine. My direct quote was, ‘Well, Trent Noah is a liar.’ He’s just that tough. I’m glad we got through the game without having to put him back in.”
While fans may have to wait a bit longer to see Noah return, Pope’s decision clearly comes from a place of trust and long-term planning. With Louisville on deck, the staff wants their fearless freshman fully ready for battle.
Kentucky fans might not see Trent Noah suit up Friday — but his toughness and Pope’s no-nonsense honesty just gave Big Blue Nation plenty to talk about.
