Back spasms kept Cason Wallace out, according to John Calipari

Nine minutes into Kentucky Basketball‘s loss to South Carolina, star freshman Cason Wallace checked out of the game and was never seen or heard from again Tuesday night in Rupp Arena. Wallace walked toward Kentucky’s locker room midway through the first half and never returned to the bench, leaving many concerned fans wondering his whereabouts and his playing status as Kentucky continued to fall apart on the floor without him.

In the second half, the team’s Twitter account confirmed a lower back injury and labeled Wallace as “questionable” to participate the rest of the way.

But Wallace was done for the night with his four-point, one-assist contribution in eight minutes.

Cason Wallace (lower back injury) is questionable to return.

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 11, 2023

After the game, John Calipari got a little more specific regarding Wallace’s injury, telling reporters in the postgame press conference that back spasms kept his starting guard away.

“Said he had back spasms,” Calipari explained. “I just, when I saw him in the locker room. What was up? He said back spasms.”

Asked by the Herald-Leader’s John Clay if the spasms are a new or an old issue, Calipari replied, “He’s had the issue at times.”

KSR’s Jack Pilgrim dug into the matter a little further and learned Wallace has been bothered by back spasms in the past and the team’s trainers will need to keep an eye on the current flare-up as the season progresses, in order to keep Wallace available.

Cason Wallace has a history of back spasms, it's why he wears the brace on his lower back on the bench during games

Tonight's injury isn't considered a serious one, just a flare-up, source tells KSR

Still something trainers should keep a close eye on the back half of the season

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) January 11, 2023

On Calipari’s postgame show, he said, “I have no idea” if Wallace or Jacob Toppin will be back for Saturday’s game in Knoxville.