Sahvir Wheeler (Jeff Houchin Photo)
Point guard Sahvir Wheeler almost sounds like Kentucky coach John Calipari, especially when it comes to talk about assists and turnovers.
“I think we did a pretty good job with the assist totals. I believe we had 20 assists as a team. I mean, that says a lot. Multiple guys who had more than one. Guys are sharing it,” Wheeler, a transfer from Georgia, said after UK’s exhibition win over Wesleyan last week.
Kentucky had seven players with an assist led by Wheeler and Davion Mintz with six each.
The Cats had nine players commit a turnover but the team only had nine because eight players only had one turnover each.
“We didn’t have many turnovers, especially in that second half we kind of cleaned it up. And as long as we’re sharing the ball and making one more pass, being unselfish, good things are going to happen for us on the offensive end,” Wheeler, who had 10 points, three rebounds and three steals, said.
Wheeler was impressed that only one player (Lance Ware) had two turnovers and the offense produced 95 points.
“I know that number could get even better because I know all of us missed some shots that we usually make. Just the first game jitters, anxiety, playing against somebody else. All that’s going to get better the more we play against somebody else,” he said.
Kentucky did let Wesleyan score 72 points and shoot 56 percent from the field in the second half. The Cats also forced only 12 turnovers.
Wheeler obviously wants to see UK force way more turnovers but also understands defense is about more than turnovers.
“I think some of it we didn’t want to gamble. If you gamble and get out of place, then they can linger around. They can stay around. We just want to be solid, making sure they will limit them to one shot to be able to run in transition,” Wheeler said.
“So I think that was a little bit of it, but we have some spurts we’ll be able to get stops. Sometimes great defense isn’t always turning the ball over, or making them turn the ball over, I should say.
“Sometimes great defense is limiting them to one shot take, making them take a contested two or contested 3 and rebound the ball and getting out and playing on a break. Turnovers don’t always equate to great defense.”
One Response
Yes, defense is about more than just turnovers. Defense is also about more than just opponent shooting percentage. And, defense is about more than rebounding rates.
But, defense is about all of those things, and when a team allows a D2 team like that shoot, score, and rebound the way Wesleyan did, that team is not playing very good defense, period.
Great teams play their game regardless of the opponent, and great teams take a team like Wesleyan apart on both ends of the floor. That did not happen last Friday. It will be interesting to see if this team learns anything in the week between exhibitions.
We will all find out on Friday night.
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