Poythress to play in title game

Willie Cauley-Stein is out and Alex Poythress is in for the Kentucky Wildcats in Monday’s national championship game against the Connecticut Huskies.

Wildcat nation can breathe a sigh of relief. Poythress averted potential disaster when the sophomore forward, already battling a hip problem, tweaked his knee during Saturday’s post-game celebration after Kentucky defeated Wisconsin, 74-73.

Poythress was seen limping off the court and icing his knee in the locker room after being stuck at the bottom of a dogpile celebration following the Wildcats’ Final Four win. Video of the celebration shows the 6-foot, 8-inch Poythress, who scored eight points and had seven rebounds against Wisconsin, grimacing in pain.

But on Sunday, Poythress told Central Kentucky News that he is good to go for the title game.

“It’s fine. It did bother me all (Saturday) night,” Poythress said.

Sophomore center Cauley-Stein, who was injured in Kentucky’s Sweet 16 win over Louisville earlier in the tournament, has been regulated to being a cheerleader on the bench. He has been ruled out of Monday’s title game.