Sahvir Wheeler's playmaking leading to big Kentucky wins

Sahvir Wheeler started the season averaging 10 assists per game across his first three outings. 30 assists were countered by just eight turnovers (3.75 assist/turnover ratio), an expected statline from the Georgia transfer. Opposing defenses had little idea how to take away his left hand, but he was also knocking down jumpers at a relatively surprisingly clip.

If that held, watch out…

However, over the next six games, Wheeler looked like a different player, highlighted by a terrible performance against Notre Dame where he was clearly played off the floor. During those six games, 39 assists were countered by 21 turnovers (1.86 assist/turnover ratio) as defenses ignored him on the perimeter and his shot began to fail him.

He struggled to get to the rim and forced far too many tough shots that would have worked at Georgia, but won’t fly at Kentucky.

But it was that 0-5 shooting performance against the Fighting Irish that awoke something inside of Wheeler. In the three games since then, he’s dropped 25 dimes to just seven turnovers (3.57 assist/turnover ratio) while shooting 20-33 (60.6 percent) from the floor. UK has won all three by an average of 30.3 points.

The pull-up jumpers are now few-and-far-between. Wheeler has been unstoppable getting to his left hand. He poured in 26 points and eight assists in the game directly after Notre Dame; going from his worst outing to his best in a matter of seven days.

What makes these last three performances so much different than the first three though is the fact that you don’t truly realize he’s playing so well. until after the fact Sure, his 26 points against North Carolina were loud, but he followed that up with a quiet six points and eight assists in a 35-point win over a good Western Kentucky team. Then he posted 11 points, nine rebounds, and just one turnover on Wednesday against Missouri.

The on-court difference is the result of a minor scheme adjustment from head coach John Calipari. While Wheeler is incredible at penetrating and getting to the rim, he’s still only 5-foot-9 and needs space to get off clean looks.

Kentucky has begun to make it a point where when Wheeler is looking to attack, his teammates clear out all the space in the paint. Transition buckets have also been emphasized. Get to your spot before the defense can beat you there.

“You got to bring the big guy out if you’re going to give him opportunities to drive,” Calipari said after Wednesday’s game about getting Wheeler open looks. “So if you’re watching what we’re doing, either in transition the big guy is not in the lane yet, or in halfcourt offense, we’ve done things to bring the big away from the basket. And he takes advantage.”

Kentucky had 25 fastbreak points in the win over Missouri, its second-most this season. Over the last three games, UK is averaging 18.3 fastbreak points per outing. That’s a far cry from the seven transition points against Duke, the six against Ohio, and the six against Notre Dame. The ‘Cats weren’t fully benefitting from its obvious speed advantage early in the season, but they sure are now and the results are showing in the final scores.

Wheeler is up to averages of 11.5 points, 7.8 assists per game (tops in the SEC), and 3.0 turnovers per outing on over 46 percent shooting. He’s looking more and more comfortable each game. Not to mention his defense, which has yet to let up all year long. If he has one thing to fall back on when his offense isn’t clicking, it’s his tenacity on the other end of the court.

Not even some post-Christmas cramping issues against Missouri could knock him off his groove. With Kentucky’s floor general now playing up to standards, the ceiling for this team continues to rise.