Click below for more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Tuesday’s men’s basketball game between Kentucky and Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Kentucky basketball hasn’t been at full strength for any of its 22 games this season.
UK was down a pair of starters — freshman guard D.J. Wagner and fifth-year forward Tre Mitchell — for Tuesday night’s big road win at Vanderbilt.
Wagner missed his third straight game, and fourth overall, with an ankle injury. Mitchell missed his first game of the season, and his first game as a Kentucky Wildcat, with a back injury.
Freshman guard Reed Sheppard started in Wagner’s place for the fourth time this season. He finished with six points, five rebounds, four turnovers and three assists.
Sophomore Adou Thiero started in Mitchell’s place. He finished with four points, four rebounds and two assists.
Freshman center Zvonimir Ivisic also returned in a big way for Kentucky after missing Saturday’s loss to Tennessee due to illness: He recorded 11 points and seven rebounds before fouling out.
UK defeated Vanderbilt, 109-77. Kentucky’s 109 points were the most scored by the Wildcats in a road game since February 1996 (120 points at Vanderbilt).
“In another week or two, we’re going to have 11 guys,” Calipari said. “We’re going to have 11 guys, and they all can play. So, I’d rather have that than four guys.”
Kentucky Wildcats guard D.J. Wagner (21) shoots the ball against Kentucky State during an exhibition game at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky, Thursday, November 2, 2023. Wagner has missed several UK games this season with an ankle injury. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
D.J. Wagner remains out for Kentucky men’s basketball
Following Saturday night’s home loss to Tennessee, Calipari said he was expecting Wagner to return “sooner (rather) than later.”
A 6-foot-4 freshman guard, Wagner has averaged 12 points and 3.7 assists across 18 games played (all starts) this season.
The Wildcats are now 1-3 when Wagner hasn’t played this season, with losses to UNC Wilmington, Florida and Tennessee to go along with Tuesday’s win at Vanderbilt.
Wagner has been sidelined with an ankle injury for each of these four absences. Calipari previously said Wagner suffered a high ankle sprain during a home win over Miami (Fla.) in late November, which preceded the home loss to UNC Wilmington that Wagner missed.
In each of the four games Wagner has been out injured for, freshman guard Reed Sheppard has started in his place.
“D.J. is a great teammate. He’s very vocal on the court. And he does everything that we need him to do,” Sheppard said following the loss to Tennessee. “… On defense and offense, he’s just a dog. So, he’s really fun to play with. But we’ve got to win without him as well.”
“(We’re) definitely missing (Wagner) a lot because he helps us with being a leader and helping us be together and he’s our point guard,” fellow freshman guard Rob Dillingham added. “… D.J. comes to play every day and not everybody has that mindset. That’s why when we play, we miss him as our point guard. He comes to play every day and gets our starting five a push. So, just his mindset, leadership and want to win.”
On Monday morning, Bruiser Flint, Kentucky’s associate to the head coach, spoke about Wagner’s value to the Wildcats as a communicator.
“I think (Wagner) communicates, not just in the game, but within our team, the huddles, and things like that,” Flint said “(We’re) a little bit more organized. He’s more of a leader in that respect. So you always miss that.”
Kentucky Wildcats forward Tre Mitchell (4) has played in every game this season for UK, but will miss Tuesday’s contest at Vanderbilt with a back injury. Silas Walker swalker@herald-leader.com
Tre Mitchell also out for Kentucky basketball against Vanderbilt
In addition to Wagner, another normal Kentucky starter didn’t play Tuesday night against the Commodores.
Fifth-year forward Tre Mitchell — who was one of three UK players (along with fifth-year guard Antonio Reeves and freshman guard Reed Sheppard) to have played in every game this season — was out for the Wildcats with a back injury.
Mitchell, who is averaging 12.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game this season for UK, hasn’t been himself of late.
In last Wednesday’s home loss to Florida, Mitchell scored just five points and missed all five of his 3-point shots. He hauled in nine rebounds and recorded three assists against the Gators.
In Saturday night’s home loss to Tennessee, Mitchell was clearly not up to standard: In a season-low 24 minutes on the court, Mitchell missed all three of his shots and failed to score for the first time in a UK uniform. Mitchell pulled in five rebounds against the Volunteers.
Following the Tennessee loss, Calipari said the UK coaching staff would “sit down with (Mitchell) and figure it out.”
Kentucky continues to have players unavailable for games
In all 22 UK games so far this season, at least one scholarship Wildcat hasn’t been available to play.
How has Kentucky’s fluctuating roster availability been managed by coaches and players this season?
“I always thought our rotation for our guards was really good to start the season, we haven’t had that lately,” Flint said. “And we’ve taken our lumps a little bit with it. So (when) we get healthy, I think we’ll be fine that’s another big part of it. But we haven’t had a full team all season. So, when we do get our depth, when we do get guys back… I think we’ll be fine.”
Following Tuesday night’s contest at Vanderbilt, there’s only nine regular-season games left for the Wildcats before next month’s SEC Tournament begins.
That’s not a lot of time for the Wildcats to get to full health and find chemistry together on the court before elimination basketball starts.
“The guys who have been out have played already,” Flint said Monday. “So it’s just about getting yourself back into it.”
This story was originally published February 6, 2024 at 8:03 PM.
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
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Click below for more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Tuesday’s men’s basketball game between Kentucky and Vanderbilt at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee.
