CJ Fredrick says he is 'doing well' amid injuries

It’s hard to think of a time when CJ Fredrick was healthy through nearly two seasons at Kentucky.

He missed all of last season and various stretches throughout this year, and he continues to fight his way back to health entering the NCAA Tournament. Fredrick has been dealing with a cracked rib for the better part of a month and has been in and out of Kentucky’s lineups ever since.

Fredrick revealed where he is regarding his health, and Big Blue Nation will be happy to hear that the three-point specialist is on track to play in Friday night’s first-round game against Providence.

“I’m doing well. Rest has been nice for me these last couple of days. At this point of the season, everybody is a little banged up,” Fredrick said. “There’s always something lingering at this point of the year, but I’m feeling pretty good going into the game, and the rest of the team is feeling good, fresh, so we’re excited.”

Fredrick has missed seven games in total with various injuries this season and hasn’t played a consistent role since early February. Since Feb. 7, Fredrick has seen action in four games and scored eight total points during that span, including two scoreless outings against Auburn and then Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament.

It’s not like Fredrick isn’t seeing action, either. He was purposefully on a pitch count and played seven minutes against Auburn in his first game back. In the three games since, he’s averaged 19 minutes on the court for John Calipari’s squad.

Fredrick hasn’t been the only Kentucky guard that has been banged up down the stretch. Star freshman Cason Wallace only recently returned from injury and veteran playmaker Sahvir Wheeler hasn’t been on the court since Feb. 4 after injuring his ankle and going through a minor procedure for another ailment.

Still, Wheeler expects to play for UK this week and enters the tournament averaging 7.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game. Likely coming off the bench, it’s Wheeler’s job to provide key minutes for Kentucky down the stretch — or be the straw that stirs the drink, as Calipari likes to say.

Kentucky seems to be trending toward a full lineup as tip-off nears. Tip-off between the Wildcats and Providence in the first round of the NCAA Tournament is set for Friday afternoon at 7:10 p.m. ET live on CBS. The Wildcats are four-point favorites over the Friars entering Friday.