Vicky Graff Photo
John Calipari understands how hard recent games have been on Sahvir Wheeler after he lost his starting job and had to become a role player after leading the Southeastern Conference in assists the last two years — and he was again this year when he was demoted.
Wheeler was injured when UK beat No. 5 Tennessee and did not play. He barely played in the second halves of wins last week over Georgia and Texas A&M.
But at Vanderbilt Tuesday night not only did he play 22 minutes, but Calipari said he was the key to the 69-53 win.
The UK coach said freshman point guard Cason Wallace was not pushing the pace the way he wanted, so he went to Wheeler.
“Sahvir changed the whole game. I told them today we had to get out on misses and makes,” Calipari said on the UK Radio Network after the win. “He (Wallace) didn’t and I put him (Wheeler) in and all of a sudden bam, bam. The whole game changed.”
Wheeler finished with five assists, four points, one steal and one rebound along with two turnovers.
“I kissed Sahvir (after the game). I got sweat all over my face and I kissed him. I said I’m about ready to cry. I know what he’s been through. You don’t,” Calipari said in his postgame press conference.
Kentucky had five other players in double figures but Calipari said Wheeler was the “difference maker” in UK’s fourth straight win.
“Sahvir was great tonight and he comes in every single day with a leadership mentality and he was ready to go,” UK guard CJ Fredrick said. “He was the reason we got up so big in transition.”
Calipari said not starting Wheeler was “really hard” even though he wanted to make some changes.
“I didn’t want to give people an opportunity to say I’m blaming anybody,” Calipari said. “It just wasn’t the right time to do anything. I needed him to do what he did (tonight) so they will respect him as a player.”
“He may have to come off the bench. Doesn’t mean I don’t love you, I’m not for you, I won’t be there the rest of your life, but someone’s playing better. That’s a team. Then you accept that and say, ‘I’m ready. What’s my role?’”
Wheeler seems to have done exactly that and when Calipari needed him Tuesday, he did exactly what the coach wanted.
10 Responses
It sounds like Calipari is starting to regress concerning Wheeler. Wheeler didn’t hurt the team at Vandy, but I didn’t see anything that made him THE difference in the win.
I disagree with Cal. We will never know, but i think UK would have beaten Vandy by thirty if Wheeler was not in the game. Cal has to push his agenda and so far, this year he has done a terrible job. Things are turning around because Cal is being forced to see what has been obvious to us Bennies all year. We will see going forward.
Calipari cannot help himself.
The bennies saved the season. It had nothing to do with the fact after the SC loss they changed their attitude. Playing more physical. Fighting on defense. Toppin has come alive. Play whomever you want, just win. I’m not gonna complain about a win no matter who plays. If you’re not happy about how the Cats are trending, oh well. Wheeler on the floor has not been the root of Kentuckys problems.
I agree Jim, Wheeler wasn’t the sole problem when cats were having problems. There’s a solution for the people that’s complaining just don’t watch the game.
Wheeler helped at Vandy, but he did give up a steal. It is pretty clear to me that UK is a much better team with Wallace at the point. The current starting five the last few games is the difference in turning this season around. A win over Kansas Saturday will be a real indication this UK team has their "mojo" back. Wheeler is still needed coming off the bench and contributing as he did at Vandy.
It would be wonderful if Calipari would give a little more credit to his starting five, and just shut up about Wheeler. Less talk all the way around really. The guy never knows when to shut up. I believe that young man is a team player and understands his role on this team now without all of Calipari’s silly drama about the kisses and all. I don’t see the need in it, and I feel it could even be embarrassing to his former starting PG. It seemed odd to me quite frankly. A simple comment that Wheeler made a "positive contribution" to the win is all that is needed from his head coach.
Lord I began to think this all about Wheeler than the cats in general this basketball season. Life is too short be complaining . We need to be talking the strides our cats has made not bashing any players. You and I weren’t perfect at there age
Glad to see that some here still are positive. I can not agree more with you 79 or Jim. For people to believe that the Bennies saved the season is ridiculous. Those same Bennies were saying to bench Toppin. I believe they used the now famous "Looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane" quote to describe him.
What about the team is playing better because they are buying into what coach is saying. They say he destroys players but complain when he is trying to keep a player attacked constantly by so called fans in a good place to be able to help the team when the time comes!
Like I said in a previous post. It does not matter what Cal does. He could win it all and some here would still complain. And maybe I’m wrong but my understanding of the term Basketball Bennies is not for all UK fans. Just the ones who think they know more than the coach about a team he recruited and is with more that he is with his wife.
They are playing well today but so much time is wasted complaining about the past that some are missing the enjoyment of the present. Like you said Cats79. Life is too short for that!
There was no way to enjoy the basketball this coach delivered doing it with his lineup for 16 games.
The last 4 games have had 6 halves that have been quite good, which is enjoyable, but without that lineup change, this would not be happening, and even with the lineup change, Calipari will not admit that the change in the lineup has been an instrumental change. This business that wheeler was the difference at Vandy is part of that obstinance. Wheeler played well at Vandy, but he was not a the difference or the reason UK won the game as they did.