John Calipari shares reaction to Florida fan grabbing Cason Wallace

Things took a dramatic turn in the Florida–Kentucky game on Wednesday night when a fan sitting courtside grabbed Kentucky guard Cason Wallace around the neck following a play that spilled over out of bounds.

Wallace saved a ball from going out of bounds after falling into the stands. When he tried to get back up and go on defense, a fan had his arm around Wallace’s neck and essentially clotheslined him.

Whether it was accidental or on purpose was unclear, but the fan was ejected from the game.

Kentucky, though, was not awarded a technical foul as a result.

“My whole thing was c’mon, you can’t,” coach John Calipari said. “‘Well we’re gonna throw him out.’ Guy grabbed him around the… but anyway. It’s fine.”

Calipari seemed relatively unconcerned after the game, in a jovial mood in his postgame press conference. Wallace for his part, didn’t seem to suffer any adverse affects. He finished the game with eight points and six assists.

Calipari, though, did note the physical tone of the Florida-Kentucky game, fan interference notwithstanding.

“That game was a roughhouse game and Florida never stopped playing, and they were gritty as hell,” Calipari said. “I wished them luck. I’m glad we’re not playing them anymore. Because if they play that way, you watch what happens. You watch. If they play the way they just played us? I don’t know what their schedule is and who it is, but if they do that, they’ll be fine.”

Kentucky still trying to get healthy

The Wildcats have been without two of their stars for the last few games, including the Florida-Kentucky game, with guard Sahvir Wheeler dealing with an ankle injury and guard CJ Frederick nursing injured ribs.

Calipari isn’t sure when they’ll return.

“No. They’re working out and the trainers, the weight room and all the stuff they’re doing,” coach John Calipari said Wednesday night after a win over Florida. “They’ve got two different kind of injuries, but they’re injured. … We need them both, to be honest with you.

“We’ll just have to see.”

Kentucky returns to action on Saturday with a 4 p.m. ET tipoff against Auburn on CBS.