Kentucky will get a bit of a breather before leaving for New York

One week from now, we’ll be nearing tip-off of Kentucky vs. UCLA in the CBS Sports Classic in Madison Square Garden. Before the Cats head to the Big Apple, they’ll get a bit of a breather. After today’s 69-59 win over Yale, John Calipari said he’s giving his team some time off to recoup from a long week and prepare for finals.

“They’ve got three days off because we’ve been traveling all over the world — I can say that literally. They’ve got the rest of today off, they’ve got Sunday off, and they’ve got Monday off. They’re preparing for finals. We’ll practice in a two-hour slot every day, probably at 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. every day so you get your work in and then go to finals.

“We leave on Thursday after finals to go to New York. We’ll be there Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and come back here. I think we have another game and then they go home for Christmas for four days.”

Following the UCLA game, Kentucky plays Florida A&M on Wednesday, Dec. 21. The next game is the SEC opener, at Missouri, on Dec. 28. (If you’re looking for a good game to watch, the 9-0 Tigers host No. 6 Kansas at 5:15 p.m. on ESPN.)

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Adou Thiero sick, Oscar and Sahvir Wheeler nearing full-strength

Neither Lance Ware nor Adou Thiero played today. John Calipari said after the game that Thiero has been battling a bug since returning from London.

“Adou was sick yesterday,” Cal said. “Didn’t practice yesterday but came and couldn’t keep anything down but he’s better today.”

Ugonna Onyenso only played two minutes, getting a bucket and a rebound. Calipari said he wanted to play Ugonna more to give Oscar Tshiebwe a break, but had to pull him out after the freshman had the ball taken from him twice.

“I thought I played Oscar way too many minutes. But Ugo got two or three balls ripped from him. Like, you’re going to coach to win the game.”

“Ugonna kind of got pushed around in that game,” Cal added later. “I was surprised, to be honest with you, but he did.”

On Wednesday, Calipari said Oscar was about 85% healthy as he continues to work his way back from a minor preseason knee procedure. Seeing his star center put up 28 points and 12 rebounds today gave Calipari confidence Oscar is nearing 100%.

“He got better today,” Calipari said of Oscar during his postgame radio appearance. “He did [look more like his old self].”

Calipari said on Wednesday that Sahvir Wheeler is also nearing full strength after missing a game at the start of the season due to a knee injury. Wheeler was 5-14 from the floor today for 10 points. His five field goals are the most he’s made since sinking six vs. Michigan State almost a month ago. Calipari hopes the number continues to rise.

“It was great seeing Sahvir make some layups. He’s been missing layups. He’s been the best layup shooter in the country for two years. This year he’s missing left and right, like, layups.”