Sahvir Wheeler undergoes medical procedure, out for UK on Senior Night against Vanderbilt

Kentucky men’s basketball’s Senior Night will not feature an appearance from point guard Sahvir Wheeler.

Wheeler will miss his seventh straight game for UK on Wednesday night, when Kentucky hosts the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena.

But while a right ankle injury sidelined Wheeler for the previous six contests, a new, undisclosed injury will keep him out against Vandy.

On Wednesday afternoon, Kentucky head coach John Calipari tweeted that Wheeler underwent a minor medical procedure unrelated to the ankle injury on Wednesday morning.

“Sahvir had a minor procedure unrelated to his ankle injury this morning and will be out for a bit. Because he’s recovering today, he will not be part of tonight’s Senior Day ceremony,” Calipari’s tweet said.

Later, during UK’s pregame radio show Wednesday night, Calipari said he’s hearing that Wheeler will be out two to three weeks.

Wheeler last played in UK’s home win over Florida on Feb. 4. He’s averaging 7.7 points and 5.6 assists in 21 games this season, 14 of which he’s started.

On his weekly radio show Monday night, Calipari said Wheeler didn’t practice with the Cats on Monday.

“Being injured, it’s killing him,” Calipari said. “We’re anxious for him to get back, but he’s got to be healthy.”

Also on Monday night’s radio show, Calipari said that five Kentucky seniors (Antonio Reeves, CJ Fredrick, Brennan Canada, Jacob Toppin and Oscar Tshiebwe) will start the game against Vanderbilt.

But, UK’s starting lineup against Vanderbilt will include those four seniors and Cason Wallace, not Reeves.

These players — along with Wheeler — all still have college eligibility remaining for the 2023-24 season. According to UK, decisions about their playing futures will be made at a later date.

GAME-BY-GAME KENTUCKY STARTING LINEUPS

Here’s a look at the starting lineups that UK has used for all 30 games so far in the 2022-23 season.

The Cats have used 11 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.

Texas A&M: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Vanderbilt: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Kansas: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Ole Miss: Wheeler, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Florida: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Arkansas: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Georgia: Wallace, Reeves, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Mississippi State: Wallace, Reeves, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Tennessee: Wallace, Reeves, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Florida: Wallace, Reeves, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Auburn: Wallace, Reeves, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

Vanderbilt: Wallace, Fredrick, Canada, 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 for all 29 completed games.

Lineups are listed in order of total games played.

5-2: Wallace, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

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

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: Wheeler, Fredrick, Livingston, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

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

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

0-0: Wallace, Fredrick, Canada, Toppin, Tshiebwe.

▪ This Senior Night starting lineup is being used for UK’s final home game against Vanderbilt.

This story was originally published March 1, 2023 at 2:10 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