The Sahvir Wheeler Effect on Kentucky and Georgia

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Sahvir Wheeler unfortunately had to miss his opportunity for his revenge game on Saturday against Tom Crean and the Georgia Bulldogs.

The Wildcats still handled business without their starting point guard as they won 92-77, but it would’ve been good to see Wheeler get his chance against his former team.

Wheeler has worked wonders for UK’s offense after they faced so many problems last season. On the other hand, the Bulldogs’ offense is nowhere near as efficient as it was in 2020-2021. It’s like night and day for both squads or, as I like to call it, the Wheeler Effect.

Disclaimer: Both rosters went through a ton of turnover which obviously has an effect on these numbers. With all due respect, Olivier Sarr, Brandon Boston, and Devin Askew had nowhere near the success as Oscar Tshiebwe, Kellan Grady and Wheeler are having right now for Kentucky. Meanwhile, Georgia lost a ton of impact players, including Wheeler, as well as Toumani Camara (Dayton) and K.D. Johnson (Auburn). Wheeler is the main difference for both, but so are the other pieces on each roster this season.

Georgia’s offense in 2020-21 compared to 2021-22 (SEC ranks)

4th in points per game (77.5) to 11th in points per game (71)
3rd in FGs per game (28.3) to 13th in FGs per game (24.6)
3rd in FG% (45.8%) to 8th in FG% (44.5%)
T-1st in assists per game (15) to 8th in assists per game (14.3)

Kentucky’s offense in 2020-21 compared to 2021-22 (SEC ranks)

11th in points per game (70.4) to 1st in points per game (82.9)
12th in FGs per game (24.6) to 1st in FGs per game (32.7)
12th in FG% (41.7%) to 1st in FG% (49.4%)
10th in assists per game (12.5) to 2nd in assists per game (17.5)

When you compare the numbers, it really makes you appreciate what Sahvir Wheeler does. He had the Bulldogs, who finished 10th in the SEC last season, running one of the better offenses in the league. Now, with all the weapons in Lexington, Wheeler is living a point guard’s dream on a top team in the country.

Although TyTy Washington had a record-breaking performance in Wheeler’s absence, UK will hope to have Wheeler back sometime next week either at Vanderbilt on Tuesday or at home against Tennessee on Saturday. That is if Tom Crean didn’t make his neck injury any worse…