Trent Noah Sees No Playing Time in Kentucky’s Loss to Arkansas

Freshman forward Trent Noah did not see the floor in Kentucky’s 89-79 loss to Arkansas, a surprising decision considering his recent contributions off the bench. Noah had played key minutes in Kentucky’s previous two games against Vanderbilt and Tennessee, stepping up while forward Andrew Carr was dealing with a back injury.

Against Vanderbilt, Noah played 12 minutes off the bench in Kentucky’s 74-69 road loss. He finished with two points, four rebounds, and a steal, providing energy on both ends of the floor. Then, in the Wildcats’ 78-73 victory over No. 8 Tennessee, he logged nine minutes and contributed five points and one rebound in a tough environment in Knoxville. His ability to make an impact in limited action made his absence against Arkansas even more notable.

Noah’s playing time in those two games was largely a result of Carr’s injury. He missed the Vanderbilt game entirely and played just two minutes against Tennessee, leaving Pope to adjust his rotation. However, with Carr returning to play 15 minutes against Arkansas, Noah found himself on the outside looking in.

Another factor in Noah’s reduced role has been the emergence of Ansley Almonor. The transfer forward has found his rhythm in recent games, scoring in double figures in each of his last four outings. With Carr sidelined, Almonor was inserted into the starting lineup and has now started the past three games, proving to be a reliable offensive option for the Wildcats.

After the Arkansas game, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope addressed Noah’s role and suggested that the freshman could still carve out a spot in the rotation.

“Trent is actually super interesting to me. With Drew coming back and Ansley playing so well, I wonder if there is some space for Trent, actually at the three, and I think that's something to explore," Pope said. "As we kind of reconfigure everything we are doing right now on the fly, he's played well, and there's definitely space for him, and it's my job to find the right space."

Noah’s versatility and effort have not gone unnoticed, and Pope’s comments indicate that he could still play a role moving forward. However, with Carr’s return and Almonor’s strong play, the competition for minutes is fierce.

Kentucky has a crucial stretch of SEC games ahead, and as Pope continues to tweak his lineups, it remains to be seen whether Noah will get another chance to contribute.