Kentucky’s Jacob Toppin sidelined against South Carolina. Cats change starting lineup.

Cameron Drummond

Just as one Kentucky basketball player appears set to return from injury, another is now out injured.

Senior forward Jacob Toppin — who left the second half of Kentucky’s defeat at Alabama on Saturday with a right shoulder injury — will not play Tuesday night for the Cats in their home SEC game against South Carolina.

That meant UK head coach John Calipari had to make another adjustment to Kentucky’s starting lineup: Toppin had been in UK’s starting five for the last three games and UK was 2-1 in those contests. Daimion Collins took Toppin’s place in the lineup against the Gamecocks.

But while Toppin is now out injured, it appears the Wildcats are set to welcome back guard CJ Fredrick, who dislocated a finger during UK’s SEC-opening loss at Missouri on Dec. 28.

During pregame warmups Tuesday, Fredrick was seen putting up shots with a wrap on his shooting hand. Fredrick also went through final warmups with Kentucky.

Fredrick missed three straight games with the finger dislocation.

Jacob Toppin dribbles the ball during a game against Louisville at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.
Jacob Toppin dribbles the ball during a game against Louisville at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.

Game-by-game Kentucky starting lineups

Here’s a look at the starting lineups that UK has used for all 16 games so far in the 2022-23 season.

The Cats have used seven 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.

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.

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

South Carolina game: Wheeler, Wallace, Livingston, Collins, Tshiebwe.

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