John Calipari anticipates Sahvir Wheeler's injury is "short-term"

Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler will not miss extended time after going down with a knee injury in the team’s first exhibition game vs. Missouri Western.

Head coach John Calipari was unable to provide an official timeline on Wheeler’s return to play following the win, but did confirm it was the same injury that kept him out of practice “a couple days” leading up to Kentucky’s Blue-White Game in Pikeville last week. “It was the same knee. Like, it twisted,” he added.

Follow-up tests, though, reveal that Wheeler’s injury should just be a “short-term” issue Calipari said Monday.

“My hope with Sahvir, it’s short-term,” he said during an appearance on The Alan Cutler Show.

The 5-foot-9 playmaker left the game at the 10:45 mark in the second half after taking an awkward fall at the baseline going after a pass. He immediately reached for his right knee and lower leg and was helped to the bench. Wheeler was then taken back to the locker room without putting any weight on his leg.

The senior standout ended the game with four points on 2-7 shooting to go with two rebounds, one assist, one steal and two turnovers in 22 minutes.

In his brief absence, Cason Wallace is expected to take over point guard duties, with Antonio Reeves and Adou Thiero seen as Kentucky’s other ball-handling options.

The Wildcats are set to take on Kentucky State on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET to close out the exhibition slate. That game will be streamed live on SEC+.