Kentucky Wildcats fans have been given a much more encouraging picture of Milan Momcilovic’s injury, and the latest information has changed the way the situation initially looked.
When news first emerged that Momcilovic had injured his right index finger during practice, there was immediate concern around the program. The finger is on his shooting hand, making the situation particularly important for a player expected to have a significant role in Kentucky’s offense.
Initial reports suggested the possibility of a fracture, leaving Kentucky fans wondering how long the Iowa State transfer might be sidelined.
Now, however, there is a major twist.
Further evaluation reportedly determined that Momcilovic did not break his finger. Instead, he severely jammed the right index finger.
That is still an injury that requires caution, especially because it affects his shooting hand, but it is considerably better news than a fracture would have been.
The latest timeline is also encouraging. Momcilovic is expected to begin shooting again within roughly 10 days and could return to full practice within one to two weeks.
For Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, that could be a major relief.
Momcilovic entered the program with plenty of expectations. The 6-foot-9 forward gives Kentucky another legitimate perimeter shooting threat while also providing size and versatility at the forward position. His ability to stretch the floor could be especially valuable as Pope continues to build his offensive system.
That’s why losing him for an extended period would have been a major blow.
Fortunately for Big Blue Nation, the current information suggests that won’t happen.
Momcilovic is not fully back yet, and Kentucky will likely be careful with his recovery. There is no reason to rush him during preseason workouts when the bigger goal is having him healthy when the games actually count.
The encouraging part is that he is still expected to have plenty of time to recover before the regular season begins. Barring an unexpected setback, Momcilovic is not expected to miss any regular-season games.
What initially looked like a potentially serious setback has now become a much more manageable situation.
Kentucky fans may still have to wait a little longer to see Momcilovic back on the court at full strength, but the latest update provides a reason to breathe a little easier.
The injury isn’t completely behind him yet, but the major twist is that the initial fear of a broken finger appears to have been replaced by a far more optimistic recovery outlook.
