Sahvir Wheeler Trying His Hardest To Be Able To Play Against Providence

Sahvir Wheeler was in a happy mood at UK's open practice in Greensboro, N.C., on Friday. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Will Sahvir Wheeler play against Providence tonight when Kentucky opens NCAA Tournament play?

Probably but not definitely.

“He is trying his hardest, and he is doing great stuff, but, you know, I’ve got to really feel that he is going to be maybe not 100 percent, but he can’t be 80. Not in a game like this,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said Thursday.

“Providence is well-coached. They’ve got terrific players. Their guards are good. They’re downhill runners.  And so we’ll see. He’ll go through the shoot-around. We’ll practice a little bit after this, and then the docs and the trainers will tell me what they think.”

Wheeler, the senior point guard, has not played in over a month due to various issues.

“I’m super excited to be in this situation again — in the tournament, with my guys — and hopefully we do some great things,” Wheeler said from the UK dressing room before the team’s open practice in Greensboro, NC.

He has not played a game since Feb. 4 but he indicated Thursday he had practiced some before the SEC Tournament as well as more this week.

“No matter if I played really well in practice, or even if I stunk it up in practice, I was just so happy to be out there with my guys and play the game I love,” he said.

Wheeler said he had “some good moments” in practice and certainly sounded like he expects to play in spite of what Calipari said.

“At the end of the day, I’m willing to do whatever it takes for us to win,” Wheeler said. “Whether that’s playing. Whether that’s being the biggest cheerleader. Whether that’s sharing my knowledge — what I’m seeing — with my teammates. Whatever it takes for us to win, that’s what I’m willing to do.”

Wheeler had also been off limits to the media since his injury which had led to social media speculation not only about how serious the injury was — he also had tailbone surgery according to Calipari — but that Wheeler might not even want to play after losing his starting job to freshman Cason Wallace.

“That’s a narrative?” Wheeler asked. “I would hope they (fans) were able to watch my energy on the bench. I think that tells a lot.”

He said he thought it was “crazy” there was a narrative about him not wanting to play again.

“I love this program. I love this team. I love the coaches that I’m surrounded with every day. This is a kid’s dream to be at Kentucky. This is a kid’s dream to play at this level, play the games that I’ve been able to be a part of,” Wheeler, the SEC assists leader the previous two seasons, said.