Trey Lyles Illness: Updates on Kentucky Star's Status and Return

The Kentucky Wildcats might have to brace themselves for life without forward Trey Lyles on the court, as the player is dealing with an undisclosed illness. He missed a Feb. 3 against Georgia due to the ailment. He did not play Saturday against Florida, but traveled with the team to LSU and announced his returnon Feb. 10.

Continue for updates. 

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Lyles Returns vs. LSU

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Lyles announced his return on Tuesday ahead of the team's matchup with LSU:

On Feb. 7, Kevin Brockway of Gatorsports.com reported Lyles was out vs. Florida and didn't travel with the team.

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Lyles Battling Illness 

Monday, Feb. 2 

Kami Mattioli of the Sporting News has the report:

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Kentucky forward Trey Lyles is battling an undisclosed illness and is questionable for Tuesday night's game against Georgia, John Calipari said on the coaches conferences call on Monday morning. It's unclear what specifically ails Lyles, though it forced him to sit out Saturday's game. Calipari said on Monday he was uncertain when to expect Lyles' return to the court.

'We don’t know after (Tuesday),' he said. 'We’re never going to be as good without him.'

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Matt Jones of KentuckySportsRadio.com later reported that Lyles is out vs. Georgia and could be out longer.

Both Dominique Hawkins and Dakari Johnson told Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal that Lyles hasn't been around the team:

The 6'10" Lyles is averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game for the Wildcats. The freshman has proven to be a vital part of Kentucky's rotation, providing the team with another big body to battle on the boards.

Of course, if there is any team in the country deep enough to overcome the loss of a player like Lyles, Kentucky is that team. The Wildcats have nine players averaging 19 or more minutes per game and seven players who average at least seven points per contest.

In other words, Kentucky won't be better without Lyles, but it's hard to imagine they'll be too much worse. They'll remain the favorites in every game they play.