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2018 NCAA Tournament: John Calipari confirms Jarred Vanderbilt a doubt to play first weekend

Vanderbilt v Kentucky

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 30: Jarred Vanderbilt #2 of the Kentucky Wildcats dribbles with the ball against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Rupp Arena on January 30, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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John Calipari is not hopeful that one of his stars, freshman Jarred Vanderbilt, will be available to play this weekend.

Vanderbilt suffered a sprained ankle prior to the start of the SEC tournament.

“My guess would be hard this weekend,” Calipari said, via SEC Country. “He wants to play but I just don’t see it right now, putting him in there and being comfortable about it.”

“He knows if he’s not able to go full bore, I’m not playing him — for him or for us. If he’s at 85-90 percent, I don’t think I play him. He’s proven who he is as a player, but more importantly, anyone that steps on that court that can’t bring it, these tournament games are life and death and the other team is gonna bring it.”

Vanderbilt’s integration into the Kentucky lineup sparked a late-season surge for the Wildcats, but Kentucky went on to win the SEC tournament without him.