Kellan Grady’s reaction to news CJ Fredrick could miss season? ‘Heartbreaking’
Even with a Kentucky roster bursting with capable players, Saturday’s announcement that a hamstring injury would likely sideline CJ Fredrick for the entire season was a blow.
“It was heartbreaking,” Kellan Grady said Monday. “We live together, so it’s even more of a personal consideration for me. Seeing how hard he had worked to get back. Sometimes fate just works against you.”
Fredrick, a transfer from Iowa who played high school basketball for Covington Catholic, had not played publicly this preseason.
Seeing Fredrick use crutches to get to his seat to watch Kentucky play Robert Morris on Friday cast doubt on a return to action soon. Then came Saturday’s announcement that Fredrick would undergo surgery on a hamstring this week.
“Obviously, we could have used CJ,” Grady said. “For his basketball ability, but it’s always horrible to see when someone works so hard and they just get hit with an unfortunate injury like that.
“We wish him a speedy recovery and he gets back to full strength. But it’s just tough for all of us.”
Meshing update
UK players spoke confidently of the annual process of meshing individual talent into a cohesive unit.
“I think guys are understanding their roles,” Grady said. “It’s always easier to kind of navigate that once you start playing other teams. So, although we’re only two games in, I think guys are starting to establish themselves, and that’s only going to continue.”
Point guard Sahvir Wheeler spoke similarly.
“I’m pretty comfortable with my teammates and where they like the ball, where I can put them in positions to score or make plays for someone else …,” he said. “I know if you ask the question three months from now, I’m going to feel like I’m even more comfortable than I am right now.”
More unstoppable
Wheeler said he had a head start meshing with big man Oscar Tshiebwe. The two were teammates on a NBA Top 100 camp as high school players.
Without mentioning it directly, Wheeler advised not drawing any conclusions about the airball 15-footer Tshiebwe shot against Robert Morris.
“He recently added a jump shot …,” Wheeler said. “When he gets that rolling, we’re going to see how even more unstoppable he is.”
Game by game
Through two games, the fluid nature of UK’s rotation has been best reflected by freshmen Daimion Collins and Bryce Hopkins. Collins played less than two minutes against Duke, then almost 21 minutes against Robert Morris.
Hopkins played two and a half minutes against Duke, then 12 and a half minutes against Robert Morris.
Dontaie Allen did not play against Duke, then logged almost 10 minutes against Robert Morris.
“It’s part of the game,” Grady said of the fluctuation. “It’s part of being at a school like Kentucky where you’ve got a lot of good players.
“It’s also due to matchups and what the other team brings to the table. … So, it’s a game-by-game thing.”
Seeking identity
Mount St. Mary’s brings a 1-2 record into the game. The Mountaineers beat a Division III team, Washington (Md.) 117-62 between losses at Villanova (91-51) and Saint Joseph’s (80-60).
“We’re just worried about forming our identity,” Coach Dan Engelstad said. “And that starts on the defensive side.”
One objective will be to try to limit the times Kentucky guards, especially Sahvir Wheeler and TyTy Washington, penetrate into the paint, he said.
Best motor
Mount St. Mary’s will be playing its fourth game in eight days. The Mountaineers played Saturday at Saint Joseph’s, then traveled to Lexington on Sunday. That meant a one-day preparation for UK, Engelstad.
That was enough time to note Tshiebwe is averaging 20 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end, through two games.
Engelstad called Tshiebwe “one of the best rebounders that I’ve ever seen. … His motor is the best I’ve ever witnessed, and I’ve seen Tyler Hansbrough in person.”
Etc.
Mount St. Mary’s freshman Dola Adebayo is redshirting this season. Dola is not related to former UK player Bam Adebayo, Engelstad said. … Tom Hart and Jon Sundvold will call the game for the SEC Network.
