Jacob Toppin’s scoring surge ends as shoulder injury sidelines him at Alabama

Of the many signs of Kentucky basketball progress that came to a halt Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, the improved offensive play of senior forward Jacob Toppin was a significant one.

Toppin entered Saturday’s game fresh off the best two-game offensive stretch of basketball in his college career: a 24-point, MVP-worthy performance in a rivalry win over Louisville and a 21-point outing against LSU in UK’s first SEC win of the season.

But that offensive productivity went away Saturday during Kentucky’s lopsided loss to No. 7 Alabama inside the Crimson Tide’s Coleman Coliseum.

Toppin was 1-for-10 from the field, scoring only three points in the defeat. His lone made basket of the game came on a rare three-pointer, which meant Toppin was 0-for-9 on shots inside the three-point line.

Of course, Toppin wasn’t the only UK player to struggle offensively in the 26-point loss: Only Antonio Reeves (20) and Sahvir Wheeler (15) scored more than four points in the game, and if you take away Toppin’s 1-for-1 showing from behind the arc, Kentucky was 4-for-19 (21%) from three-point range.

Toppin did provide an important defensive presence for the Wildcats, particularly in the first half, against star Alabama freshman forward Brandon Miller, the top freshman scorer in the country.

While Miller finished the game on pace with his per game average with 19 points, Toppin was a big reason why Miller scored only seven in the first half, as the UK forward was able to match Miller’s mobility and size around the court.

Toppin also gathered six rebounds to tie for the UK team lead with Oscar Tshiebwe, who struggled himself on both ends of the floor against Alabama.

But, on a day where the Wildcats welcomed back junior forward Lance Ware after a one-game absence due to a shoulder injury, Toppin appeared to sustain a shoulder injury of his own.

Toppin exited Saturday’s game with 9:17 remaining in the second half while holding his right arm, and received attention from a UK trainer while sitting on the end of the Wildcats’ bench.

Toppin was then ruled out for the remainder of the game due to a shoulder injury.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari didn’t offer an update on Toppin’s injury or status postgame.

Toppin’s injury could lead to lineup changes for UK

With UK facing a quick turnaround — the Cats are next in action on Tuesday night against South Carolina inside Rupp Arena — it’s entirely possible that Toppin might not be able to play against the Gamecocks, which would necessitate another shuffling of the Kentucky starting lineup.

UK has used the same starting lineup in three straight games: Sahvir Wheeler, Cason Wallace, Chris Livingston, Jacob Toppin and Oscar Tshiebwe.

The Wildcats are 2-1 in games with that quintet as the starting lineup, with wins over Louisville and LSU to go along with Saturday’s loss at Alabama.

So far this season, Kentucky has used six starting lineups.

Here’s a look at the starting lineups that UK has used for all 15 games so far in the 2022-23 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.

Louisville: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

LSU: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Alabama: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Toppin, 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.

2-1: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

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

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

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

This story was originally published January 7, 2023 at 5:53 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