Kentucky basketball’s Wheeler cites heredity and environment as sources of his bravado
To Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler’s skills as a passer, scorer, defender and leader, you can add at least one more: fact checker.
When asked Monday about his 11 assists against Robert Morris last Friday, Wheeler smiled and said, “It was 12.”
Yes, a postgame correction changed his assist total to 12, which he downplayed as “nothing new.”
It was his zero turnovers against Robert Morris (after seven against Duke in the season-opening game) that Wheeler thought worthy of examination.
“The zero turnovers was a big thing for me,” he said.
Wheeler attributed several factors, including studying game video, for the big reduction.
“Some of that stuff was unforced,” he said of the seven turnovers against Duke. “. . . I have the capability of having a big assist number. To not turn the ball over was one thing I wanted to prove. I got that done.
“There might be some games I might have three (turnovers). Might have two. I definitely should not have any more games when I have four or five.”
After the Duke game, UK Coach John Calipari attributed the seven turnovers to fatigue. Wheeler played 38-plus minutes against the Blue Devils.
“Nah,” Wheeler said. “I think Coach Cal is always going to try to cover for us. He’s the best at that. Making sure the blame doesn’t go back on us.
“I’m going to take full accountability for that. I’ve been playing high minutes since I’ve been in college, so it’s no excuse.”
Wheeler averaged 34.8 minutes last season when playing for Georgia.
Using a boxing analogy, Wheeler said, “I don’t think Floyd Mayweather is going to take the excuse (about) why did it go 12 rounds? Were you tired? So, I’m going to take the same approach. I’ve got to be better. If I’m going to be given the responsibility to play those high minutes, I can’t have those kind of turnovers.”
Wheeler also had three of his shots blocked against Duke, two helping to blunt a UK second-half rally.
After crediting the Blue Devils’ rim protection, Wheeler added, “That was the first time I got my shot blocked in about three years to be honest with you. Like, for real. I don’t really get it blocked. I think that’s one of my strengths.”
For a player UK lists as being 5-foot-9 to say he had not had a shot blocked in maybe three years caught listeners’ attention.
“It’s a lot of work understanding angles, understanding what the defense is going to do,” he said. “It’s more of, like, a natural feel for it.”
Both of Kentucky’s first two opponents saluted Wheeler’s contributions.
After the UK point guard had 10 assists in the opener, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski said, “Wheeler was a problem.”
Star freshman Paolo Banchero echoed that sentiment.
“I really like his game because he’s always under control,” he said of Wheeler. “He had control of the team. You could see it. He had 10 assists and was hooping, and was under control and was a floor general.”
Robert Morris Coach Andrew Toole described Wheeler as a pace setter, a role that seems key for a Kentucky team looking to score in transition.
“On makes and misses, he’s running it down our throat,” Toole said. “The way he pushes the ball down the floor I think just encourages all those other guys to run hard.
“He’s so unselfish and so able to get them shots in early offense . . . . He’s got such a good understanding of the pace. . . . He’s able to organize them into any action they’re trying to execute.”
As he is sensitive to the pronunciation of his given name, Wheeler also was precise in the description of his point guard play.
“I wouldn’t concern myself with pass-first,” he said. “I’m more of a playmaker.”
Kentucky’s opponent Tuesday night, Mount St. Mary’s, also has an under-sized point guard: Jalen Benjamin, who is listed at 5-10.
Wheeler dismissed the importance of the opponent’s size.
“It’s all the same to me,” he said. “I’m going to outplay you and win the game. So, it doesn’t matter if you’re a 7-5 point guard or a five-foot point guard.”
When asked why he seems to have unabashed bravado, Wheeler said, “maybe that’s from me being from New York. Maybe that’s in my DNA.”
He said his parents met at famed Rucker Park while watching a basketball game.
“They’re the most confident people I know, so maybe that rubs off on me a little bit,” Wheeler said with a chuckle. “It’s in my DNA. It’s in my blood. But I’ve been raised to be a confident kid knowing my capabilities and knowing I can go into any room and adapt for the better and make everyone else confident.”
Tuesday
Mount St. Mary’s at No. 13 Kentucky
When: 7 p.m.
TV: SEC Network
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Mount St. Mary’s 1-2, Kentucky 1-1
Series: Kentucky leads 2-0.
Last meeting: Kentucky won 82-62 on Nov. 22, 2019, in Lexington.
This story was originally published November 15, 2021 at 1:54 PM.
