John Calipari has no update on TyTy Washington's injury

It might be another day or two before we know the exact status of TyTy Washington‘s most recent injury.

The five-star Kentucky freshman went down during Tuesday’s 76-63 loss to Tennessee after reigniting a previous injury suffered in Saturday’s win over Florida. It’s been diagnosed as a lower left leg injury that was the result of a scary incident, and Washington sported a sleeve that covered his hampered leg against the Vols. He was a game-time decision before eventually taking the floor in Knoxville, ultimately giving it a go, but the pain became too much in the second half.

On Wednesday night, during his weekly radio call-in show, UK head coach John Calipari reiterated what he said immediately after the loss to Tennessee, that he should have gone with his gut and not played Washington. Beyond that, he didn’t have much to add on the current status of his star guard or a couple of other Wildcats, going with his traditional bit answer.

“I have not heard or seen — before you ask — TyTy, Sahvir (Wheeler), Jacob (Toppin). I have not heard or seen any of those kids so I don’t know yet,” Calipari said of their status. “Probably get some things tonight that will tell me. But you know, we’re pretty well beat up but it doesn’t matter. I’ve got a good team. I’ve got a team that’s built for March.”

To most, it was a shock that Washington was even able to suit up and play against Tennessee. Considering his frightening reaction when the injury occurred, plenty assumed he might miss a couple of games at the very least. Washington tried to tough it out though, but he was clearly frustrated on the bench with how the pain was affecting him.

“TyTy — again. If I had to do it over, my gut was let him sit out give a pass on the game,” Calipari said. “If we win, we win. We lose, we lose. But he wanted to play and at halftime I called him in my office and said, ‘Do you need to be in there? Are you hurting?’ And he said ‘I’m good.’ I said ‘Listen to me. If I see limp at all. I’m taking you out.’ I probably should have just gone with my gut. I want to win every day my coach but the big picture here is March.”

As for the other two players Calipari mentioned, Wheeler and Toppin, he didn’t have anything to add on that end. Dealing with a turned ankle, Toppin was also a game-time decision against UT, but he wound up recording 11 points and six rebounds in 20 minutes. Wheeler, on the other hand, was fine coming into the contest but appeared to knick up both his left shoulder and wrist at different times. Although he finished out the rest of the night, he was seen tending to both areas down the stretch.

Kentucky will have a couple more days to assess the injury situation before another high-profile showdown, this time coming at home against No. 25 Alabama on Saturday afternoon.