Cason Wallace makes the game easier for Sahvir Wheeler

Ugonna Onyenso's presence at the time will help Sahvir Wheeler and Cason Wallace be even better defenders. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Two-time all-Southeastern Conference point guard Sahvir Wheeler returned to the Kentucky lineup with a double-double (11 points, 11 assists) last week but even though he’s led the SEC in assists two straight years, freshman Cason Wallace already has a lot of support from UK fans to be a fixture at point guard.

However, Wheeler is a Wallace fan … and has been since the freshman arrived on campus in June.

“He makes the game way easier on both ends. On offense, he can be the primary ball-handler as well, I don’t always have to come back and get it,” Wheeler said. “He can initiate, he can create plays for himself and others, and defensively, that kind of speaks for itself.”

“We’re probably two of the premiere, elite on-ball defenders in the country. We try to guard, we complement each other in that way, we’re both athletic, we’ve got speed and ultimately, we make each other better and we make our teammates better.”

Both guards played about 27 minutes against Duquesne. Wallace had eight points, four assists and three rebounds after nearly missing a triple-double in the first game against Howard when Wheeler did not play.

“I think our guards are going to play 25, 20 to 25, 27 (minutes), depending on who is playing well. Antonio (Reeves) keeps amazing me. C.J.’s (Fredrick) doing his thing. Cason. Sahvir. We got four really good guards,” Calipari said.

Wheeler said 7-foot freshman Ugonna Onyenso, a unique shot blocker, is going to help him and Wallace both apply even more defensive pressure.

“It’s crazy. Go ahead, you got to go by me and Cason and everybody else and we’re going to funnel you down there – so that’s big time. You know Coach Cal always talked about that his teams that were successful, they had a shot-blocking presence,” Wheeler said. “So, when he’s (Ugonna) back there, when Daimion (Collins) gets back there when he gets back, all of that’s going to be hard for teams to go against.”

“We’re going to wear you out, we’re going to get into your legs, pick you up full court, then you have to go finish over Ugonna and Daimion and hopefully at some point we get Jacob (Toppin) to get a couple blocks as well. Lance (Ware) has been protecting the rim.”

Kentucky had 11 blocks against Duquesne, including four by Ware and three by Onyenso. Wheeler and Wallace also had one each.