“When will Jayden Quaintance make his Kentucky debut?” is one of the biggest questions heading into the 2025-26 season. While the big man wouldn’t put a timeline on his ACL rehab on Tuesday, he did tell reporters that he’s had one game circled on his calendar for a while, potentially going back to when he was first committed to Kentucky as a recruit coming out of high school. It takes place on November 11, during the second week of the season.
“Louisville,” Quaintance told reporters of the game he’s looking forward to the most. “I’m really excited for the energy that’s going to be in that game. That’s always a fun one, and all the fans look forward to it. So I’m looking forward to that game for sure.”
Whether or not Quaintance will be ready to play in that game remains one of the biggest topics of speculation in Big Blue Nation. On Tuesday, he said his rehab is “going great,” but didn’t put a date on when he thinks he’ll be back on the floor. Previously, he said he hopes to be fully healthy by September, roughly six months from when he had surgery. Rest assured, Quaintance and the UK training staff are doing everything they can to make sure he’s back to 100% as soon as possible, to the point he arrived early in Lexington to focus on his rehab and is limiting his time around town.
“Well, I’m in the house most of the time,” Quaintance said when asked about his favorite things to do around Lexington. “I try not to do too much. Just focus on getting my knee swelling down and everything, just trying to get back to 100%.”
It doesn’t help matters that the Louisville game is so early this year. Typically, the rivalry game is scheduled for mid-late December, near the end of Kentucky’s non-conference schedule. This year’s matchup takes place at the Yum Center in Louisville, giving the Cardinals and the ACC scheduling power. As Mark Pope quipped earlier this summer, blame the Cards for it taking place so early — maybe Pat Kelsey had Quaintance’s rehab in mind? Fingers crossed Quaintance is ready to roll by then so he can live out his dream of crushing the Cards.
SEC matchups loom large for Jayden Quaintance, Kam Williams
The Louisville game isn’t the only game Quaintance is looking forward to this season. He told reporters he’s also excited to play Florida. The Gators beat Arizona State 83-66 in the Holiday Hoopsgiving last December in Atlanta. Quaintance had 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks, and 2 assists in the loss, which he’s eager to avenge — even though he’s now teammates with a former Gator, Denzel Aberdeen.
“Florida, they got us last year. So that’s gonna be a fun one again.”
Kentucky will play Florida twice this regular season, home and away. Hopefully, Quaintance will be back on the floor for those games, the dates of which have yet to be announced. Of course, the Cats won last season’s game vs. the Gators, who went on to win the national championship.
Kam Williams is eying a different SEC matchup. The former Tulane guard told reporters that he’ll have lots of family in the stands for Kentucky’s game at LSU. Williams hails from Lafayette, Louisiana, about an hour’s drive from Baton Rouge. That said, he won’t let the homecoming impact his preparations.
“I would say LSU. You know, it’s like a hometown game. So I might have family and stuff there, but I don’t really treat anybody higher than somebody else, because it’s just basketball at the end of the day, so it’s definitely about my vibes. Nothing different.”
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