Kentucky star Sahvir Wheeler believes he'll be available Friday night vs. Providence

Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler believes he will be available to play in the Wildcats’ opening game of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night against Providence.

During media availability on Thursday, Wheeler was asked about his recovery and whether he’s feeling good to go. The senior answered “yeah, I have” when asked if he had practiced this week — something coach John Calipari said Wheeler and others needed to do in the lead-up to the Providence game in order to play. He was then asked if he expects to be available for the game, to which he answered with a laugh: “I believe so.”

Sahvir Wheeler last played during Kentucky’s Feb. 4 win at home over Florida but has missed the last month-and-a-half since due to an ankle injury and a minor procedure he had done on Senior Day a couple weeks ago. Now, it sounds like he could be dressed to play and ready to come in if his number is called vs. Providence.

John Calipari also commented on Wheeler’s availability, noting that the veteran guard is doing everything he can to be good to go vs. the Friars:

“He is trying his hardest and he’s doing good stuff,” said Cal. “I’ve got to feel that he’s at 100% and not 80%…We’ll see. He’ll go through the shootaround, we’ll practice a little after this and then the docs will tell us.”

Below you can see a video of Wheeler warming up during Thursday’s practice as well as the video of him saying he believes he’ll play:

He’s backkkkk!!!!!!! https://t.co/YTlouOAhHD pic.twitter.com/rFZ4NY5Ycv

— Dylan Ballard (@DylanBallard_UK) March 16, 2023

You have to practice to start, says Calipari

Calipari stressed the importance of practicing this week during his press conference, saying: “This week, I told them, you will either practice Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or you will not start and you will come off the bench if you’re a starter. And if you’re on the bench, you’re going to be deeper on the bench. When you’re just doing scripting and not competing, it takes an edge away. We have to compete before we go in. So those are just some things.”

He then added:

“They gotta practice. That’s what happened last time, they practiced on Thursday. We weren’t the same. So, you gotta be here practicing, or you’re coming off the bench, and you’re not gonna play as much, unless you get in there and we need you, and you play well? Okay, we’ll leave you in.”