Chances of Kentucky playing a short-handed Florida just increased

While Kentucky hopes for Jarred Vanderbilt’s return from injury, one of UK’s rivals in the Southeastern Conference plays its own waiting game.

Florida’s wait for the return of big men John Egbunu and Isaiah Stokes had been expected to end by January. But Coach Mike White said Thursday that the players’ return might not happen until late January, The Gainesville Sun reported.

Without Egbunu and Stokes, Florida has played a smaller lineup and been vulnerable to opponents with size. Kentucky fits that description and plays Florida in Rupp Arena on Jan. 20.

Both players are recovering from torn anterior cruciate ligaments.

Egbunu, who is 6-foot-11 and 266 pounds, averaged 7.8, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks last season before the torn ACL ended his season prematurely.

Stokes, the younger brother of former Tennessee strongman Jarnell Stokes, is a 6-8, 285-pound freshman.

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Click here to view Kentucky’s 2017-18 basketball schedule and results.

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Neither Egbunu nor Stokes has participated in team practices, White said.

“You wish we had all four ‘bigs’ in practice today and we were at full strength,” White said. “But we’ve got to make do. We just came off a game where we defended on the interior differently. We had to do it with five guys. Less margin for error, of course. But it can be done.”

This story was originally published December 14, 2017 at 6:50 PM with the headline "Chances of Kentucky playing a short-handed Florida just increased."