Freshman guard D.J. Wagner injury update: Impact on Kentucky basketball backcourt

D.J. Wagner's injury leaves UK backcourt depth in question, but team still has options to fill the gap. #Wildcats #InjuryUpdate

Freshman D.J. Wagner drove to the basket and took a hard foul from Hurricanes guard Wooga Poplar with 4:22 left in the first half. He stayed in the game to shoot his free throws before leaving to go to the locker room. He did not return before halftime.

Wagner came back before the second half started and worked out on an exercise bike courtside. However, he went back to the locker room shortly after the second half began. At the time of his injury, Wagner had scored five points, had an assist, and a block in 10 minutes of play.

The injury to D.J. Wagner has implications for the UK backcourt. The good news is that the Wildcats have more depth in the backcourt than in their frontcourt, where they have been without their three tallest players all season.

Even with Wagner sidelined for an unknown period, UK still has Rob Dillingham, Antonio Reeves, and Reed Sheppard as traditional guards, as well as versatile wing Justin Edwards. Adou Thiero and Jordan Burks, who are listed as guards but are 6-foot-8, are also available options. However, Wagner's absence will be most felt by the team, as he had been on a hot streak, scoring a total of 50 points in the previous two games and earning the SEC's Freshman of the Week award.

Now, with Wagner's status uncertain in the short term, the Wildcats will have to continue without him.

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