Rising Stars Benched: Mysterious Absences Sparks Questions in Kentucky’s Loss

Freshman forward **Trent Noah did not see any playing time in Kentucky’s 89-79 loss to Arkansas, a surprising move given his recent contributions off the bench. In the Wildcats’ previous two games against Vanderbilt and Tennessee, Noah had provided valuable minutes, particularly while forward Andrew Carr was sidelined with a back injury.

Noah’s Recent Contributions
In Kentucky’s 74-69 loss to Vanderbilt, Noah played 12 minutes, recording two points, four rebounds, and a steal. While his numbers were not overwhelming, he brought energy on both ends of the court. His role continued in the next game, when he saw nine minutes of action in Kentucky’s 78-73 victory over No. 8 Tennessee, contributing five points and one rebound in a hostile road environment. Given his impact in limited minutes, it was unexpected that he didn’t see the floor at all against Arkansas.

Why Did Noah Not Play Against Arkansas 
There are a few key reasons why Noah was left out of the rotation against the Razorbacks.

1. Andrew Carr’s Return – Carr, who had missed the Vanderbilt game entirely and played only two minutes against Tennessee, was back in the lineup against Arkansas, logging 15 minutes. With his return, the forward rotation shifted, pushing Noah further down the depth chart.

2. **Ansley Almonor’s Emergence** – Another major factor has been the rise of Ansley Almonor, a transfer forward who has been on a hot streak offensively. He has now scored in double figures in four straight games** and has been a consistent contributor in Kentucky’s frontcourt. Almonor took over a starting role while Carr was out and has now started three consecutive games*, proving to be a reliable scoring option** for the Wildcats. With both Carr and Almonor in the mix, there was little room left for Noah in the Arkansas game.

Mark Pope’s Comments on Noah’s Role Moving Forward
After the game, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope addressed Noah’s absence and indicated that there might still be a place for him in the rotation—possibly at a different position.

> “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. 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.”

Pope’s comments suggest that Noah’s versatility could give him another opportunity to earn minutes, perhaps at the small forward (three) position rather than in the frontcourt. However, with Carr now back and Almonor solidifying his role, Noah will have to compete for playing time.

What’s Next for Noah
Kentucky is entering a crucial stretch of SEC play, and Pope is still tweaking his rotations as the team looks to bounce back from the Arkansas loss. Whether Noah will carve out a consistent role remains uncertain, but his hustle, versatility, and past performances suggest that he could still get opportunities if Pope finds the right fit for him in the lineup.

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