Cason Wallace is OUT for tonight's game against Ole Miss

Well, this certainly isn’t ideal.

In the leadup to Kentucky men’s basketball’s Tuesday night showdown against Ole Miss, KSR’s Jack Pilgrim reports that starting point guard Cason Wallace will sit out the game due to a leg issue. Wallace has been dealing with back spasms throughout the season that caused him issues previously, but a minor leg injury will sideline him tonight.

The Wildcats and Rebels tipoff on ESPN at 9:00 p.m. in Oxford.

Cason Wallace will miss tonight's game due to a leg issue, sources tell KSR

— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) February 1, 2023

Wallace is a significant loss for Kentucky against Ole Miss, which has lost nine of its last 10 outings. The 6-foot-4 freshman has started all 21 games so far this season for the ‘Cats, averaging 11.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting over 46 percent from the floor.

The absence of Wallace will allow more run for point guard Sahvir Wheeler, who was a regular part of the starting lineup until a few weeks ago when he was moved to an off-the-bench role. It’s feasible that Wheeler will move back into the starting lineup to replace Wallace.

Ole Miss loses Daeshun Ruffin for season

Kentucky won’t be the only team missing an important ball handler tonight, as Ole Miss will be without Daeshun Ruffin, who averaged 9.5 points per game this season off the bench. Ruffin had played 11 games this season, including two starts, but it was announced by the school on Tuesday afternoon that he will step away from the program to focus on his physical and mental health.

Ruffin’s last game for Ole Miss was on Jan. 24 in an 89-77 loss to Missouri in which he posted 18 points and seven assists in a season-high 29 minutes.

A message from @DaeshunRuffin pic.twitter.com/jTp3iqK8qs

— Ole Miss Men’s Basketball (@OleMissMBB) February 1, 2023

Also for the Rebels, Matthew Murrell, the team’s leading scorer, suffered a knee injury at No. 25 Arkansas and missed Ole Miss’ next two matchups vs. Missouri and at Oklahoma State — both double-digit losses. Murrell is currently listed as questionable roughly 30 minutes until tipoff.