No Sahvir Wheeler or CJ Fredrick at shootaround, John Calipari: "Ruin their week"

Florida has brought out the pompoms and t-shirts for the Gators’ game tonight vs. Kentucky in Gainesville. John Calipari wants the Wildcats to ruin the party at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center — and better yet, the opposing fans’ week.

Meeting with his team prior to shootaround, Calipari made that message clear to the players. Looking to build some real momentum during the final stretch of the regular season, this is a perfect opportunity to send the home crowd back to their cars in misery.

“What we’re trying to do is ruin their week. Ruin their week,” Calipari said. “They want to bring all this in and it’s going to have an effect on this game? Go do it, have at it. Let’s get ’em going.”

From there, the shootaround highlights, featuring plays from Cason Wallace, Oscar Tshiebwe, Jacob Toppin, Chris Livingston, Lance Ware and Daimion Collins, then subtle appearances from Antonio Reeves, Adou Thiero and Ugonna Onyenso in the wide-angle shot of Toppin’s make from mid-court.

The only two players noticeably absent? CJ Fredrick and Sahvir Wheeler.

Another road test … #GoBigBlue x @AlumniHallUK pic.twitter.com/1GtQkF60Sb

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 22, 2023

The other angle shows Reeves, Thiero and Onyenso, along with the coaches and managers. Again, no sign of Fredrick or Wheeler.

JT called it 👀 pic.twitter.com/M4lKROSUrJ

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 22, 2023

Calipari and assistant coach KT Turner were unable to provide official updates on either player this week, though both acknowledged they’re working to return to the floor sooner rather than later.

“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.”

“They’re working hard every day to get back,” Turner added. “Just worked Sahvir out in an individual workout so we’ll see. We don’t know yet. … If we can just get one of them it’d be great, we get two it’d be even better. Those guys bring so much just with their play and their experience and their basketball IQ, we can definitely use either one of those guys. Would love to have both of them and can’t wait to get them back.”

Sources tell KSR that Fredrick is not expected to play in Gainesville, but is working toward returning to game action vs. Auburn on Saturday. The redshirt senior cracked a rib colliding with a cameraman during Kentucky’s first matchup vs. Florida on Feb. 4, and after trying to play through the injury vs. Arkansas has now missed three straight games. He is officially listed as day-to-day.

As for Wheeler, he re-injured his ankle in practice two weeks ago, sidelining the point guard for four straight games. He spent the first three matchups out wearing a boot before taking it off during the team’s win vs. Tennessee, a sign he’s trending in the right direction. Still, though, the expectation is the senior guard will not suit up for the Wildcats tonight in Gainesville. Those within the program expect Wheeler to play again this season, potentially before the start of postseason play. Just not ready yet.

Next man up. Time to ruin Florida’s week.