After sitting out five games, senior Alex Poythress was eager to get back on the court. Head coach John Calipari said the forward was “sick” after watching the loss to Texas A&M, but he looked fine and then some in his first game back against Alabama.

“I was really proud of him,” Calipari said. “He could have stayed out a couple of more days. He knew the team needed him. He was sick over Texas A&M. He felt like, I probably could have gone in and helped.”

Without Poythress in the line up, UK went on an impressive run blowing out opponents, but the teams’ last two games showed Poythress’ value. Against the Aggies the Cats were getting handled on the boards and in the paint by physical center Tyler Davis. Against the Crimson Tide Poythress was that force inside.

“The energy that he gives them running up and down the floor, the shot blocking – even when he doesn’t block shots, the way he contests them in the interior,” Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said. “And again, he’s just a terrific pick and roll player. When he picks and pops he does a great job of taking bigger guys off of the dribble.”

Before getting injured, Poythress turned in his best game at UK in the team’s visit to Tuscaloosa. He put up a career-high 25 points and established himself as a legitimate go-to option in the post.

Tuesday night in Rupp Arena, Poythress had the same kind of impact on the game.

“I feel like if I get the ball on the block, I can score,” Poythress said. “We have to have somebody to throw the ball into the post, why not me?”

He made his case for being that guy as soon as he entered the game against the Crimson Tide. He scored six straight points for the team making three straight strong moves in the lane. He made the first two shots and then was fouled and converted both free throws.

Poythress finished the game with 14 points and his scoring comes at a great time, helping to replace Willis’ production.

“When Alex is the best version of himself, he’s as good as any guy his size in the country,” Calipari said. “But he’s got to come every day and be that guy.”

The senior may be facing his final days at UK but his performance tonight just reiterates the narrative from the beginning of the season. The team’s success is synonymous with Poythress’. But for now he’s just happy donning that UK uniform again.

“It just felt good to be out there playing again. You know, just playing,” Poythress said.