Kentucky basketball finally returns to full strength for SEC home game against Georgia
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Game day: Kentucky 85, Georgia 71
Click below for more of the Herald-Leader’s and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Tuesday night’s men’s basketball game between Kentucky and Georgia at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
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With plenty of games still to go in SEC play, the Kentucky Wildcats have returned to full health.
A UK basketball season that has often been interrupted by player injuries received a boost Tuesday night, with senior guard Sahvir Wheeler and sophomore forward Daimion Collins both set to return to the court.
Wheeler — who missed Kentucky’s season opener with a knee injury — also missed Saturday’s upset win at Tennessee with an injured left shoulder.
He initially suffered the injury in practice following Kentucky’s last home game, a loss to South Carolina last week.
But Wheeler will be back for UK against Georgia.
Wheeler practiced with the Wildcats on Monday. And during UK’s pregame radio show Tuesday night, it was confirmed that Wheeler would be available against the Bulldogs.
Tuesday was already a special day for Wheeler: In addition to getting the chance to face his former school, Wheeler is also celebrating his birthday.
Sophomore forward Daimion Collins will also return Tuesday for the Cats.
Collins initially suffered a left foot injury at the beginning of the South Carolina game, which marked the second start of his college career. He missed the Tennessee game due to that injury.
On his weekly radio show Monday night, Calipari said he thought Collins aggravated an ankle injury in Monday’s practice, but nonetheless, Collins will be available for UK on Tuesday night.
Neither player will be in the UK starting lineup.
Game-by-game Kentucky starting lineups
Here’s a look at the starting lineups that UK has used for all 18 games so far in the 2022-23 season.
The Cats have used eight different starting combinations.
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.
South Carolina: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Collins, Tshiebwe.
Tennessee: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.
Georgia: Wallace, Fredrick, 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.
1-0: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.
0-1: Wheeler, Wallace, Fredrick, Toppin, Tshiebwe.
0-1: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Collins, Tshiebwe.
This story was originally published January 17, 2023 at 8:49 PM.
