Kentucky basketball sticks with same starting lineup for its SEC opener at Missouri

Conference play has arrived, and Kentucky men’s basketball may have found stability with its starting lineup this season.

UK head coach John Calipari tinkered with the Wildcats’ opening five for last week’s win over Florida A&M, and decided to stick with the same group of players for Kentucky’s SEC opener at Missouri.

The Wildcats will go with a starting lineup of Sahvir Wheeler, Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston, Lance Ware and Oscar Tshiebwe against the Tigers.

During his last two radio shows (which air on Monday nights), Calipari has hinted at significant changes to the Kentucky lineup and rotation.

Two weeks ago, Calipari spoke about wanting “a smoothness to us playing” following UK’s dismal offensive showing against UCLA.

This led to Livingston and Ware moving into the starting lineup, which has held true for the last two games.

Earlier this week, Calipari discussed downsizing the Kentucky lineup by putting more ball handlers on the floor. In theory, this would help alleviate the congestion around the rim that Tshiebwe has experienced this season, with opponents frequently sending double- and triple-teams to defend against the reigning national player of the year.

Game-by-game Kentucky starting lineups

Here’s a look at the starting lineups that UK has used for all 12 games so far in the 2022-23 season.

The Cats have now used five starting combinations this season.

Howard: Cason Wallace, CJ Fredrick, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin, Lance Ware.

Duquesne: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Ware.

Michigan State: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Ware.

South Carolina State: Sahvir Wheeler, Wallace, Fredrick, Toppin, Ware.

Gonzaga: Wheeler, Wallace, Fredrick, Toppin, Oscar Tshiebwe.

North Florida: Wheeler, Wallace, Antonio Reeves, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Bellarmine: Wheeler, Wallace, Reeves, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Michigan: Wheeler, Wallace, Reeves, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Yale: Wheeler, Wallace, Reeves, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

UCLA: Wheeler, Wallace, Reeves, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Florida A&M: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Ware, Tshiebwe.

Missouri: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Ware, Tshiebwe.

Kentucky’s win-loss record by starting lineup

Here’s a look at Kentucky’s win-loss record this season by starting lineup.

Lineups are listed in order of total games played.

4-1: Wheeler, Wallace, Reeves, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

2-1: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Ware.

1-0: Wheeler, Wallace, Fredrick, Toppin, Ware.

1-0: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Ware, Tshiebwe.

0-1: Wheeler, Wallace, Fredrick, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

This story was originally published December 28, 2022 at 6:50 PM.

Cameron Drummond

Lexington Herald-Leader

859-242-5257

Cameron Drummond works as a sports reporter for the Lexington Herald-Leader with a focus on Kentucky men’s basketball recruiting and the UK men’s basketball team, horse racing, soccer and other sports in Central Kentucky. Drummond is a second-generation American who was born and raised in Texas, before graduating from Indiana University. He is a fluent Spanish speaker who previously worked as a community news reporter in Austin, Texas. Support my work with a digital subscription