Sahvir Wheeler, CJ Fredrick out vs. Tennessee

Kentucky will be shorthanded once again vs. Tennessee, missing two rotation pieces, just as the Wildcats were down in Knoxville in the first head-to-head battle.

Sahvir Wheeler (ankle) and CJ Fredrick (rib) are both out this afternoon against the Volunteers in Lexington, Kentucky head coach John Calipari announced during a pregame radio segment with Tom Leach. This news comes after the guard duo missed the team’s games at Georgia and Mississippi State, with Wheeler also missing the home loss vs. Arkansas.

“Neither one will go today,” Calipari said.

Fredrick cracked a rib colliding with a cameraman during the Florida game on Feb. 4, and after trying to play through the injury vs. Arkansas, couldn’t give it a go on the road in Athens or Starkville. As for Wheeler, he twisted his ankle in practice last week, an injury he has not yet recovered from. He remains in a boot with five games left in the regular season.

Shorthanded once again, Kentucky will roll with the same starting lineup it tried at Georgia and Mississippi State. 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.

Tennessee will be down two rotation pieces, as well, with Josiah-Jordan James and Julian Phillips both out in Lexington. James and Phillips are the fourth and fifth-best scorers on the team, averaging 9.5 and 9.0 points per game, respectively, while combining to haul in more than 10 rebounds per game for the Vols.

Tip-off vs. Tennessee at 1 p.m. ET, live on CBS.

Time to take care of business.