Kentucky makes decision on TyTy Washington, Sahvir Wheeler status vs. LSU

Kentucky is going to be shorthanded against LSU on Wednesday night.

Freshman guard TyTy Washington and junior guard Sahvir Wheeler are out for the matchup, according to KSR’s Tyler Thompson. Washington is dealing with a leg injury and Wheeler is out with a wrist issue.

Washington is Kentucky’s second-leading scorer this season with 12.4 points per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Wheeler is the Wildcats’ assists leader with 7.1 dimes per contest this year. Both players missed Kentucky’s game against Alabama over the weekend, as well.

Kentucky is coming off a 90-81 win over Alabama on Saturday. The Wildcats are getting ready to take on an LSU team that beat them 65-60 on Jan. 4 — meaning they have an opportunity to get some payback as the SEC race intensifies down the stretch.

What John Calipari said about TyTy Washington, Sahvir Wheeler’s statuses following Alabama win

Kentucky head coach John Calipari said he had two days to figure out “how in the hell [is Kentucky] going to play” without TyTy Washington and Sahvir Wheeler. Judging by the Wildcats’ 90-81 victory over No. 25 Alabama, the rest of their team stepped up.

Calipari had leaned heavily on his pair of prolific point guards throughout the season, and to great success. Saturday was the first time all season that Kentucky didn’t have either of their primary ball handlers play even a minute. It might have to be an absence they’ll have to deal with moving forward.

“They may be out another couple of games. I need them healthy by March,” Calipari said.

Washington is battling said left lower leg injury he suffered a week ago vs. Florida, while Wheeler injured his right wrist Tuesday at Tennessee. He was also seen grabbing his wrist at the end of the Tennessee game. 

In the few days leading up to Saturday’s game against the Crimson Tide, Calipari hinted he’ll sit some players against Alabama to make sure the team is healthy for the final stretch of the season. Fast-forward to warm ups, and the backcourt duo were nowhere to be seen. It wasn’t long after that Kentucky basketball confirmed both would be sidelined due to injury.

After looking at X-rays, John Calipari said Washington was day-to-day. He suited up against Tennessee on Tuesday and tried to give it a go, but was clearly not 100 percent. Less than a minute into the second half, Washington went down and had to limp to the bench and watched the rest of the game from the sidelines, clearly frustrated.