Mo Dioubate now 'day-to-day,' Jayden Quaintance 'still a ways away' -- but now full-contact

Slowly but surely, the Kentucky Wildcats are inching toward full-strength status — and they desperately need it right now, especially coming off the 35-point loss to Gonzaga to make it four straight power-conference defeats. They got Jaland Lowe back against the Bulldogs, but how about the team’s other pair of injured forwards?

Mo Dioubate has seen a positive development after missing four straight games, going down with a high-ankle sprain against Michigan State on November 18. After a not-so-great update on the versatile forward last week — “These things sometimes can be weeks and weeks and weeks, so he’s doing everything he can to get back,” Mark Pope said before the Gonzaga game, adding “it’s just a torn ligament” that is “super painful” — things sound a little better to get this week started.

“Mo continues to make a little bit of progress on this high-ankle sprain,” Pope said during his call-in radio show. “We’ll see how — he’s kind of day-to-day.”

That’s much better than the “weeks and weeks and weeks” we heard on Thursday, even if it doesn’t sound like an imminent return.

As for Jayden Quaintance, sources tell KSR he was a full-contact, 5-on-5 participant for the very first time on Monday as he prepares for his Kentucky debut. Just how close is he? While he looked the part and got through without any setbacks, conditioning is still a major work in progress after so much time away.

That’s going to keep him away from game action in the short-term, but big-picture, he’s right where he needs to be and fans can start counting down the clock on his debut.

“JQ is continuing to make progress,” Pope said Monday. “He’s still a ways away from actually seeing in-game live action, but he’s making tremendous progress. So, you know, those guys are doing pretty well.”

Don’t expect to see him back this week against NC Central or Indiana, but sources tell KSR that a December debut remains very much on the table for the talented sophomore forward.

Looking for more good news? Jaland Lowe got through the Gonzaga game just fine and his shoulder responded well after the fact, meaning he should be good to go once again on Tuesday — and hopefully beyond.

“J-Lowe continues to kind of just see limited improvement in how he’s doing, but the guys for the most part are doing well. … J-Lowe has an incredible talent. … He has a chance to make a really, really massive, positive impact on the team. The more reps we can get, the more minutes in games and practice, he has a chance to make a big impact.”

The Cats need all of the help they can get right now.