John Calipari gives Cason Wallace injury update after Vanderbilt loss

Tonight’s 68-66 loss to Vanderbilt stinks, but the question on everyone’s mind right now is, how is Cason Wallace? Kentucky’s freshman point guard went down with a right lower leg injury at the 18:14 mark in the second half and did not return. John Calipari had a small but positive update after the game.

“First of all, Cason, they X-rayed, he’s fine. It’s not swelled. We’ll see. I’m hoping he’ll be okay for Saturday but I don’t know. And if not, we’ve got to figure out how we do it against pressure.”

Wallace received treatment on the Kentucky bench for several minutes before walking to the tunnel to the locker room without assistance. Prior to the injury, he had six points on 2-7 shooting, two rebounds, and an assist.

Not helping matters is this afternoon’s news regarding Sahvir Wheeler. According to John Calipari, Wheeler underwent a minor procedure this morning that will keep him out for two to three weeks. A source tells our own Jack Pilgrim that the procedure was on Wheeler’s tailbone and the hope is that Wheeler will be able to return before the end of the postseason.

“My guess right now, and what the doctors told me, it’s going to be a couple of weeks, or at least that’s what they think,” Calipari said of Wheeler after the game. “So, it is — this is what we have right now.”

If Wallace can’t play Saturday vs. Arkansas, Kentucky will have to figure out something at point guard, whether it be CJ Fredrick, Adou Thiero, Antonio Reeves, a combination of all three, or even adding Jacob Toppin to the mix. Toppin brought the ball up at times tonight.

“If [Wallace is] not going, I gotta figure out okay, how do we play with a lineman being our quarterback?” Calipari told Tom Leach on postgame radio. “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out. There are no excuses at this time of the year. You fight like crazy. Next man up, and we’ll go.”

Vanderbilt’s Liam Robbins also injured

It was a tough night for both squads when it comes to injuries. Vanderbilt star center Liam Robbins also suffered a lower leg injury less than five minutes into the game. Robbins missed four games earlier this season with an ankle injury and most of last season with a stress fracture in his foot. Jerry Stackhouse did not have an update on Robbins’ status after the game.