After defeating Morehead State 92-67 on Monday night, UK head coach John Calipari revealed that freshman guard Jemarl Baker will be out for three months because of his lingering knee injury.

Baker has been out for Big Blue Madness and UK’s two exhibition games due to the injury. The injury was initially thought to be minor, but after a recent checkup, it was revealed that Baker will be out for longer thane expected.

“They scoped it again, so he’s going to be out probably three months,” Calipari said.

Baker was supposed to be the team’s best shooter, as he made 94 threes his senior year. The Cats have plenty of guards to fill Baker’s role, but Calipari admits that the Cats will be a little shorthanded due to the injury.

“(It’d) be nice to get one more guy,” Calipari said.

Fortunately for the Cats, three of their guards put up good performances against Morehead State. Hamidou Diallo led all scorers with 23 points, while Quade Green and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander both had at least 17 points. 

Recap: Cats defeat Morehead State 92-67

Those three guards will likely see an increased role due to Baker’s injury, but Diallo knows the absence of Baker will make an impact on this team. 

“Losing a player like him and of his caliber, he’s a great shooter, we need him on this team,” Diallo said. “Losing him for is really going to hurt us for three months, hopefully we can get him healthy quicker than that and get him back on the court.”

However, Diallo said he thinks the Cats will be fine in terms of shooting while Baker is gone, as himself, Green and other have proven they can make deep shots. 

“I feel like we have great shooters, right now shots are not falling for our shooters, they’re going to fall eventually, that’s how I see it,” Diallo said.