Just In: Cason Wallace, CJ Fredrick to Play in SEC Tournament Quarterfinal vs. Vanderbilt

Wallace returns after nursing a lower-leg/ankle injury that occurred last week.

NASHVILLE — Kentucky basketball is returning depth to its backcourt for the SEC Tournament. 

Freshman point guard Cason Wallace will play in UK's quarterfinal matchup against Vanderbilt. The SEC All-Freshman selection suffered a lower-leg injury in the Wildcats' home loss to Vandy last Wednesday and did not play at Arkansas last Saturday. 

In addition, shooting guard CJ Fredrick remains active despite battling a cracked rib that has hindered his ability since it was suffered in early February. 

Coach John Calipari said during his pregame radio show that Wallace will start, while Fredrick will play limited. He also added that forward Jacob Toppin was out "a couple days" with injuries, but will start and play as usual.

Late Thursday night, Kentucky assistant coach Orlando Antigua spoke to reporters, giving a minor update on the pair of guards. 

“They did practice (Thursday)" Antigua said. "So, we’ll get a chance to see how they’re feeling tomorrow. Both went through a full practice. We’ll see how they’re feeling in the morning when we go to shootaround.”

Wallace's return is monumental for Kentucky, as it has resorted to having shooting guard Antonio Reeves, green freshman guard Adou Thiero and even Toppin bring the ball up the court over the past week. 

Senior point guard Sahvir Wheeler hasn't played since Feb. 4 due to first an ankle injury, and now a "minor procedure" that has kept him on the bench. He remains out for what will be the ninth game in a row. 

Wheeler was a catalyst in Kentucky's win over Vanderbilt inside Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on Jan. 24, totaling four points and five assists in 23 minutes off the bench. 

Fredrick missed four games after running into a cameraman that resulted in the rib ailment. Since his return, he's played limited minutes, totaling eight points, five assists and two steals in the three outings. 

Calipari has applauded the valiancy of Fredrick, touting him as the "Most Valuable Player" in UK's win at Arkansas over the weekend:

“The night before, I said, ‘CJ, I know you’re hurting, but I need you for five minutes a half if you’re capable of doing it.’ He said, ‘I am.’ I said, ‘Do you want to start or do you want to come off the bench? I just need you five, six minutes a half.’ He said he’d do whatever I wanted him to do. He gave us everything he had, and without him we don’t win the game.”

It's unclear just how healthy either guard is, but they'll both suit up and attempt to win a rubber match over the feisty Commodores inside Bridgestone Arena. Tipoff is set for around 9:30 p.m. EST. The game will air on the SEC Network.

More on Vanderbilt's SEC Tournament second round win HERE.

See the Commodores' postgame thoughts HERE.

More on Cason Wallace, CJ Fredrick HERE.

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