UK’s a ‘different team’ when Sahvir Wheeler makes shots, Calipari says
When asked if he was rusty after being sidelined by a neck injury the last two games, Sahvir Wheeler smiled.
“Nah,” he said. “No rust.”
After helping Kentucky rout Tennessee 107-79 Saturday, Wheeler said his teammates had teased him about sitting out.
“All week long saying I wasn’t really hurt,” he said. “I just needed some time off to rest my legs.”
Wheeler, who declined comment on the LSU back screen that resulted in his neck injury, looked rested and ready. He scored 21 points and got credit for eight assists against the Vols.
Wheeler looked better than ever when he made a three-point shot with 14:01 left. That matched his total in the last 12 games he had played (1-for-18). His last made shot from beyond the arc came against Central Michigan on Nov. 29.
“Coach Cal always says, just shoot balls,” Wheeler said. “If you’re open, let it go.”
Wheeler’s three-point percentage has decreased in each of the last two seasons: From 32 percent in 2019-20 to 22.5 percent last season to 17.4 percent (four of 23) going into the Tennessee game.
Wheeler said improvement takes time.
“You don’t wake up one day and you’re really good at shooting,” he said. “It doesn’t change overnight. I didn’t become a good passer by just playing basketball. I put in a lot of time and effort.”
Wheeler went into the Tennessee game with the third-best assist average in Division I: 7.3 per game.
UK Coach John Calipari cited Wheeler’s 8-for-10 shooting against Tennessee as significant.
“(If) he shoots and makes balls and you’ve got to play him, we’re a little different team,” Calipari said.
‘Granddad’
TyTy Washington explained UK’s fast starts in both halves in a memorable way.
“Granddad got us started early,” he said. “I think he made three threes in a row. … Once he gets it going, we know already that we’re all going to feed off his energy.”
One question: Granddad? Who is that?
Washington said “Granddad” is Kellan Grady, who will turn 25 next Sept. 11.
When asked what Grady thinks of being the team’s ‘Granddad,’ Washington said, “He embraces it. He has to. He has no other choice. That’s his name. … And he’s going to be Granddad for the rest of his lifetime.”
Grady made a team-high four three-point shots and scored 16 points. Two of his three-pointers came inside the first three minutes and got UK off to a good start.
Record-tying half
UK made 22 of 28 shots in the first half. The 78.6-percent shooting accuracy tied the program record for a first half.
UK also made 78.6 percent of its shots in the first half of a game on Jan. 14, 1981. In that 64-55 victory over Ole Miss, the Joe B. Hall-coached Cats made 11 of 14 shots.
Long time waiting
It was mid-January and Kentucky had not yet beat an opponent ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 this season. After earlier losses to then-No. 9 Duke and then-No. 21 LSU, UK got that elusive victory against No. 22 Tennessee.
Is this the longest a UK team has had to wait for such a victory? In a word, no.
Kentucky did not beat a ranked team last season until a 70-55 victory over then-No. 19 Tennessee on Feb. 20, 2021. That marked the 14th season a UK team had not beaten a ranked opponent before Jan. 15.
It has happened two other times in Calipari’s time as coach: in 2017-18 with an 83-76 victory over then-No. 7 West Virginia on Jan. 27, 2018, and in 2012-13 with an 87-74 victory over then-No. 16 Mississippi on Jan. 29, 2013.
As in 2021-22, UK had lost its two earlier games against ranked opponents in each of those seasons.
In four seasons, Kentucky was winless against ranked opponents: 0-8 in 2006-07 and 1973-74, 0-2 in 1966-67 and 0-3 in 1964-65.
Rupp’s Runts did not beat a ranked opponent — or even play a ranked opponent — until a 96-83 victory over then-No. 3 Vanderbilt on Jan. 15, 1966.
Kentucky did not play a ranked opponent in the 1949-50 season.
Fan favorite
Although roundly booed by UK fans whenever he touched the ball, Tennessee big man John Fulkerson is a fan favorite in Knoxville. He grew up in Kingsport, Tenn. He’s in his sixth season with the Tennessee program, so he and UT fans have had plenty of time to bond.
Fulkerson was playing in his 146th college game. The record for an SEC player is 152 by Darius Miller of Kentucky (2008-12).
That player-fan bond might be further strengthened this season. As part of a name, image and likeness deal, Fulkerson is donating a dollar to the University of Tennessee for every point the Vols score this season.
Saturday’s game increased the total to $1,208.
This story was originally published January 15, 2022 at 6:38 PM.
