Sahvir Wheeler had five assists and four points at Vanderbilt Tuesday. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Whether you think Sahvir Wheeler should or should not be starting for the Kentucky basketball team, you have to give the senior point guard credit for how he’s handling his demotion.
Wheeler — right or wrong — was blamed by many UK fans for the Cats’ sporadic play earlier this season. Coach John Calipari remained loyal to Wheeler, who led the Southeastern Conference in assists last year after transferring from Georgia just like he did the previous season.
He averaged 31 minutes and almost seven assists per game last year. This season he played all 40 minutes when UK lost to lowly South Carolina in Rupp Arena. He played 35 minutes when UK lost 78052 at Alabama. He played 36 minutes in a loss to UCLA. He played 38 minutes in a loss at Missouri. He had a stretch of five games between Dec. 28 and Jan. 10 where he played at least 35 minutes.
However, he was injured and did not play when UK won at then No. 5 Tennessee. Against Georgia he got just 11 minutes, including one in the second half. Against Texas A&M, he played eight minutes, including just one the second half.
However, in Tuesday’s win at Vanderbilt he played 23 minutes, went 2-for-5 from the field, dished out five assists, had one steal and grabbed one rebound. Coach John Calipari said he was the “difference maker” in the win with his speed.
Wheeler was available to the media for the first time since he lost his starting job and UK went on a four-game win streak that could have saved its season.
“That’s part of it,” Wheeler said after the game when asked about his new role. “Those guys who’ve been playing these past couple of games are guys who’ve been winning games. That’s the group who went down to Tennessee and popped Tennessee.
“So, at the end of the day, we’re at Kentucky, and I’m playing with some really good players. … You gotta learn to live with that and learn to grow from it and be mature about it. Because those guys deserve to play as much as anybody else.”
That’s tough to admit for a player used to not only playing but leading his team. Yet Wheeler showed no signs of bitterness at the press conference or no signs of pouting with his play on the court.
“Those guys were fighting in practice, working their tails off, paying attention to detail. And they deserve that,” Wheeler said. “They got us three wins in a row, and today it was just my turn — my opportunity — to kind of give us some energy. And I did that.
“But you gotta give all the credit to these guys, because they’re the ones who were in there when I wasn’t available. And now we’re looking pretty good.”
Yes they are but coaches and players continue to stress Wheeler’s importance to the team and that he’s not a forgotten player. Calipari almost cried talking about his point guard’s resiliency and what the coach feels has been unfair criticism directed at Wheeler.
Teammate CJ Fredrick took time to voice his belief in Wheeler after the Vanderbilt game, too.
“Sahvir was great tonight. And he comes in every single day with a leadership mentality. And he’s been ready to go. And he was ready tonight. And he’s going to continue to do that,” Fredrick said.
“He’s our guy. We have tremendous faith in Sahvir. And that’s just the kind of guy he is. Every day, he brings it. He’s been great in practice. Today, he was the reason we got up so big. He was that ignite that we needed today.”
Calipari stressed he loved Kentucky fans but not social media.
“You got trolls (on social media). You got people from other programs. Or, they’re just not basketball fans. Or they’re not fans of mine. And they go crazy. That doesn’t bother me,” Calipari said.
It does bother him when fans/trolls go after Wheeler with criticism. Calipari said Wheeler has learned that “team in there loves him” and that Calipari is all in “until the wheels fall off” for him.
“Now, you may have to come off the bench. But so what? Doesn’t mean I don’t love you, I’m not for you, I won’t be there for the rest of your life, as long as I’m living,” Calipari said. “But someone’s playing better, so they gotta be in. That’s team. Then you accept it and say, ‘I’m ready. What’s my role? I’m gonna do this.’”
6 Responses
He has a lot more class than some of the so called fans do.
AMEN BROTHER! !
I’ll second amen to that as well!!
He has a lot more class than his own coach seems to me. How does Cal know who the trolls are if he don’t pay any attention to social media, or so he says. By the way I like Wheeler. He plays his heart out, is a fine young man. The Cats need Wheeler too. I also can live with or without Calipari as the head basketball coach at UK. The program is far more important than one man with all that ego.
Wheeler can help if he looks to pass versus look to score. He has to stay in front of his man on drives to the basket. Too often he makes a half hearted attempt to make a steal at the key and then let his man go free to the basket. He refuses to fight over the top of screens, but that leaves him to cover a big in the lane if he tries to guard him at all. Wheeler can help when we are being pressed and to provide relief, but his days of being the leader of this team have passed.
Thank you for contributing!