Kentucky's Sahvir Wheeler, CJ Fredrick out at Florida

Make that four straight games without CJ Fredrick (rib) and five without Sahvir Wheeler (ankle) for Kentucky.

The Wildcats will be without the veteran guard duo once again, this time in Gainesville against the Florida Gators. Both players have missed the team’s games at Georgia and Mississippi State, along with the home win vs. Tennessee. Wheeler also missed the home loss vs. Arkansas back on Feb. 7.

The school announced the absences shortly before the opening tip on Wednesday. Kentucky head coach John Calipari confirmed the news in a pregame interview with Tom Leach shortly after.

“No, they did not practice either day, Monday or Tuesday,” Calipari said. “They won’t be playing.”

Fredrick cracked a rib colliding with a cameraman in Kentucky’s first win vs. Florida on Feb. 4, and after trying to play through the injury vs. Arkansas, hasn’t been able to give it a go since. As for Wheeler, he twisted his ankle in practice earlier this month, an injury he has not yet recovered from. He remained in a boot for four games, but had it off against the Volunteers this past weekend, a sign of progress.

“Both of those two are really working hard to come back. They want to play for this team. They want to play for the fans. But, they got to be healthy,” Calipari said during his call-in radio show Monday. “All the doctors, trainers, everybody says they’re both really working hard to come back, but you know, you just trust the kids. They only know their pain. No one else does.”

Shorthanded once again, Kentucky will roll with the same starting lineup it has used the last three games. Cason Wallace will again take over lead guard duties, with Antonio Reeves starting at the two, Chris Livingston at the three, Jacob Toppin at the four and Oscar Tshiebwe at the five.

Adou Thiero will be the lone reserve point guard off the bench, with Daimion Collins, Ugonna Onyenso and Lance Ware rounding out the available role pieces.

Tip-off is scheduled at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Next man up.