For a sixth straight game, Kentucky basketball will be without a key sophomore contributor
For the sixth straight game, Kentucky men’s basketball will be without a key sophomore contributor on the court.
Sophomore Adou Thiero isn’t available to play for UK tonight in the Wildcats’ home SEC matchup against Georgia.
This marks the sixth straight game that Thiero — a second-year standout who has averaged 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season — won’t appear in for the Cats.
Thiero didn’t participate in pregame warmups with the Wildcats on Saturday.
During a pregame appearance on UK radio, Kentucky head coach John Calipari said Thiero has returned to practice for the Wildcats.
“He’s on the path where he needs to be (to play soon),” Calipari said.
Thiero hasn’t appeared in a game for UK since logging 13 minutes in a rivalry win at Louisville on Dec. 21. He’s now missed more than a third of Kentucky’s season so far: This is the seventh time in 17 games Thiero hasn’t been available to play.
In addition to this current six-game run of missed time, Thiero also sat out UK’s second game of the season against Texas A&M-Commerce while in concussion protocol.
Prior to Thiero’s absence Wednesday night in a Kentucky home win over Mississippi State, Calipari hinted during a pregame appearance on UK radio that Thiero’s back is what’s keeping him out of action.
“He’s moving fine, and doing all that... When you’re dealing with the back you’ve got to be careful,” Calipari said.
Calipari has referenced Thiero’s absence in several postgame press conferences and radio show appearances in recent weeks.
Earlier this week, UK associate coach Orlando Antigua also discussed what UK is missing with Thiero sidelined.
“It’s been felt,” Antigua said Tuesday afternoon about Thiero’s absence. “Obviously, just not only on the defensive side, just his physicality and his ability (on offense) to create off the bounce and get some opportunities on the offensive glass as well. And just his toughness and his nose for the ball.”
The UK program announced that Thiero missed the first two games of this current stretch — against Illinois State on Dec. 29 and Florida on Jan. 6 — due to “general soreness.”
While no official statement was given regarding Thiero missing Kentucky’s SEC home opener against Missouri on Jan. 9, Calipari addressed Thiero’s absence after that game.
“The back was bothering him and this was the best course of action. So hopefully he is back soon,” Calipari said.
Last weekend, Calipari briefly mentioned Thiero’s absence as part of a larger answer about Kentucky’s current defensive struggles following a road loss at Texas A&M.
In the moments he’s been on the court this season, Thiero has put together some standout performances, including a 16-point, 13-rebound effort against then-No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic and a four-block outing against then-No. 9 North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic.
