John Calipari comments on injury status of senior guard Sahvir Wheeler
By Ethan Stone
Published:
John Calipari met with media Monday to, among other things, update the injury status of senior guard Sahvir Wheeler, who has been dealing with injury issues for much of the 2022-23 season.
Wheeler has missed the past 6 games for the Wildcats while dealing with a right ankle injury suffered in early February. Now, nearing March, Calipari wants to make sure Wheeler is 100% healthy before taking the court as Kentucky starts to make their push for the field of 68.
As Calipari said, Kentucky is “anxious for him to get back, but he’s got to be healthy.”
John Calipari says that Sahvir Wheeler did not practice today. No new status update.
“Being injured, it’s killing him. The doctors are telling him how to proceed and keeping me informed.”
“We’re anxious for him to get back, but he’s got to be healthy.”
— Hunter Shelton (@HunterShelton_) February 27, 2023
No need to rush
Everyone who has followed Kentucky basketball has heard it at some point – something to the degree of “Kentucky is at its best without Sahvir Wheeler running point.”
It’s true that the Wildcats are 6-2 without Wheeler, scoring 2 wins over Tennessee while also beating the likes of Mississippi State, Auburn and Florida. As of now, 3 of the 4 of those opponents are NCAA Tournament teams. It’s also true that as Wheeler’s minutes diminished across January, Kentucky started to lift itself up off the bottom of the SEC.
In reality, the Wildcats still need a healthy Wheeler come tournament time. Cason Wallace has outplayed the senior PG as of late, but the freshman can’t do it alone. Winning in March requires depth. Kentucky needs that depth and energy off the bench that Wheeler provides.
These next few weeks are important for Kentucky. Let’s see how they fare in the SEC Tournament and, potentially, the NCAA Tournament.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
