Cason Wallace has missed 32 of 43 shots the last four games. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Will injured guards CJ Fredrick and Sahvir Wheeler be back when Kentucky hosts Auburn Saturday afternoon?
Wheeler has missed the last five games with an ankle injury while Fredrick has missed the last four with a rib injury.
“They’re working out … and the trainers, the weight room and all the stuff they’re doing,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said after Wednesday’s win at Florida. “They got two different kinds of injuries, but they’re injured.
“And one of the things that I know is you trust a player because only he knows his pain. You know, don’t question it. If he’s in pain they shouldn’t be playing.”
But with Wheeler and Fredrick not playing, has put a huge workload on freshman point guard Cason Wallace and shooting guard Antonio Reeves.
In the last five games, Wallace has played 39, 28, 38, 39 and 38 minutes in the last five games while Reeves has played 30, 40, 38, 29 and 38 minutes. It might be taking a toll on their shooting, too, as Reeves is 26 of 63 from the field and Wallace is 21 of 60 but only 11 of 43 overall the last four games and 0-for-16 from 3.
Wallace has made it clear he cannot wait for Wheeler to come back to take some pressure — and minutes — off him as he’s being asked to run the team, score, rebound and often defend the other team’s best perimeter player while playing almost the entire game.
Calipari said Fredrick has already told him he understands his role will be different when he comes back after being a starter before he was hurt.
“CJ said, “Coach when I come back Antonio and Chris (Livingston) are playing so well. I know I’m gonna go in and if I make some 3’s I may play more, but I know my position right now because I’m watching and Sahvir makes us different. Cason plays one way, Sahvir’s that flying and a couple easy baskets and you know creating a turnover because of his defense,’” Calipari said.
Smart analysis by Fredrick but UK needs both Fredrick and Wheeler to provide at least 8-10 minutes per game. Fredrick is a 3-point threat and Wheeler does speed up the game. But if they can play, it can give Wallace and Reeves some needed rest to keep them fresh late in games — and for postseason play.
“We need them both to be honest with you,” Calipari said.
Will it be hard to work them back in?
“We’ll just have to see,” Calipari said.
One Response
Lots of people have put Wheeler down and really Fredrick too. But as the song says, "You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone".