For the first time in nearly five years of college basketball, Andrew Carr had to watch from the sidelines. When he was ruled out for Kentucky’s Jan. 25 road loss to Vanderbilt, it marked only the second time in 139 career games that he didn’t play a single minute. Given that he’s averaged close to 30 minutes per game throughout his career, that’s a rare and frustrating experience for the veteran forward.
But this wasn’t just a one-game setback. Carr has been battling a persistent back injury dating all the way back to late December, when the Wildcats faced Brown. What began as a minor issue snowballed into a cycle of severe back spasms, forcing Kentucky’s medical staff to carefully monitor his condition.
“Out of nowhere, I started getting a lot of spasms and was dealing with a cycle of pretty bad ones,” Carr explained to reporters on Monday. “I had a good week leading up to Vanderbilt but ended up not playing. I felt like that break gave me enough time to really calm things down, and now, we’re in a good spot.”
Fighting Through the Pain—But the Toll Became Too Much
Despite the discomfort, Carr refused to back down. Even while struggling with lingering spasms, he gutted through Kentucky’s first five SEC games, averaging 10 points and 4 rebounds in 24 minutes per game.
But the pain became impossible to ignore. It hit its peak during Kentucky’s Jan. 18 loss to Alabama, and by the time the Vanderbilt game rolled around, Carr and the coaching staff knew he needed to step away and heal.
After being cleared for Kentucky’s next game—a crucial road victory at Tennessee—Carr attempted to return but lasted only 89 seconds before being pulled. His body simply wouldn’t let him go any further.
“This is the first time in my career I’ve dealt with something like this,” Carr admitted.
To provide additional stability, Carr has been wearing a Hyperice Venom heat belt while on the bench, a device designed to provide heat and massage therapy to his lower back. Mark Pope has emphasized caution, making sure to manage Carr’s workload and avoid setbacks.
Turning the Corner Just in Time for a Kentucky Surge?
Fortunately for Kentucky, Carr is showing signs of real progress.
Ahead of the Wildcats’ showdown with Arkansas, he was upgraded to probable and was ultimately removed from the SEC’s Availability Report. His 15 minutes against the Razorbacks were the most he’d played in over two weeks—a clear sign that his condition is improving.
Even though his impact on the stat sheet was limited (three points and four rebounds), his presence alone was a major boost for a Kentucky team that desperately needs frontcourt stability. With Kentucky dropping three of its last four games, his return to form couldn’t come at a better time.
“Feeling good, feeling good,” Carr said. “It was certainly a tough stretch for me, but I’ve spent a lot of time with our trainers and been able to recover a little bit here. I’m starting to stabilize and feel a whole lot better. I’m in a good spot.”
With a Top-25 showdown against Ole Miss looming, Kentucky is hoping Carr’s recovery translates into full-strength performances on the court. His return to peak form could be the missing piece the Wildcats need to right the ship and make a strong push toward March Madness.
One thing is certain—Kentucky is a much more dangerous team when Andrew Carr is at full speed.
