John Calipari Praises Players' Persistence Amid Injury Adversity

The injury bug arrived early in Lexington this season and has not left. A point of frustration for many Kentucky basketball fans, John Calipari believes it will strengthen the Wildcats when it matters most.

Oscar Tshiebwe was the first player added to the injury report. The unanimous National Player of the Year underwent minor knee surgery just a few weeks before the start of the season, forcing him to miss a few games. CJ Fredrick broke a finger at Missouri, then cracked his ribs against Florida. Cason Wallace fought through back spasms, then sprained his ankle. Jacob Toppin missed the South Carolina game, then had a hamstring issue pop up late.

The list goes on and on. Sahvir Wheeler has not played since Feb. 4 due to a multitude of injuries. This afternoon the point guard revealed he practiced this week and believes he’ll be available for the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari still has his reservations.

“He is trying his hardest and he’s doing great stuff. But I’ve got to really feel that he’s maybe not 100%, but he can’t 80%, not in a game like this…” said Calipari. “We’ll see. He’ll go through the shoot-around, we’ll practice a little bit after this and then the docs and trainers will tell me what they think.”

Kentucky will out “stronger” after Bad Injury Luck

Typically during this time of year John Calipari is preaching player empowerment. This year he’s just trying to have enough healthy players available in the NCAA Tournament.

“This has been about growth about getting healthy. Someone was asking me about Oscar, he had a knee operation to start the season was out four weeks and really should have been out six and is starting to come back to where he was,” John Calipari told reporters in Greensboro.

“And we’ve had some others. No excuse. We’re Kentucky. You’re supposed to win every game by 20. I get it. But what they’ve been through, we never lost more than two games in a row. What they’ve been through, with a loss and then the onslaught that they withstood it and stayed together and grew and became a better team; I told them, you’re going to remember 2023 the rest of your life. You’re going to be able to say we can get through this. ‘Yeah, you should have seen 2023.’ And then you come out on the other side, stronger, mentally tougher, better.”

The multitude of injuries plays a significant role in Kentucky’s 21-11 record and No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky is not the blue-blooded juggernaut at the end of everyone’s bracket. This year they’re an underdog, and John Calipari likes it that way.

“Everybody counted us out, they’re still counting us out. I told the guys I like this. This is kind of like my UMass and Memphis days. We’ll see. But I’m liking the group. I wish we were fully healthy. We’ll have to see what what happens Friday, who can play.”