It was reported that Kerr Kriisa is hurt. How long will the backup PG be out for Kentucky basketball?

We added the following to our first report, which you can read here: Kentucky basketball just got worse news: guard Kerr Kriisa will be out for 3 to 6 weeks because he has a Jones fracture in his right foot. The playmaker hurt himself in the Wildcats’ exciting 90–89 OT win over Gonzaga. He will need surgery to fix the problem, which will keep him out until January, when conference play starts.

Why do you need a Jones Fracture?

The fifth metatarsal is the bone on the outside of the foot that links to the pinky toe. A Jones fracture is a break in this bone. It usually happens in the middle of the bone and is notoriously hard to heal because blood flow is restricted to the area. Because of this, it takes longer to heal than with other fractures, which is why there is such a long break between 3 and 6 weeks. Athletes with Jones fractures often need surgery to put a screw or plate in the bone to support it and speed up the healing process.

Timeline for Recovery

Kriisa should be able to get back to normal in three to six weeks, but this depends on how well the surgery went, how quickly he can start rehab, and how the bone reacts to treatment. Refracture can happen if you return too quickly, so careful control is very important. Fans will hope for a careful but timely return from Kriisa because he is an important part of Kentucky’s rotation. It seems more likely that it will happen around the end of the six-week time frame.

What it means for Kentucky’s backcourt

Kentucky’s backcourt is in a mess without Kriisa. He has played 17.3 minutes, scored 4.4 points, given out 3.8 assists, and made 85.7% of his free throws in nine games this season. His knowledge and ability to make plays have been very helpful, even though his shooting percentages (27.9% FG, 26.3% 3PT) are still not great.

The injury comes after Lamont Butler missed the Gonzaga game because of an ankle sprain he got in the Clemson loss. Butler’s availability is still not clear, so Kentucky may count on Jaxson Robinson to play point guard. Robinson did a great job against Gonzaga. He stepped up when it mattered most and showed how versatile he is, which led to a huge return.

Kentucky will have to show how deep and flexible it is as it gets through this tough time. The Wildcats’ toughness will be shown once more, since Kriisa is getting better and Butler’s health is still unknown. It will be possible for Mark Pope’s team to “ring the bell” again.