Wheeler, Cats Host Mount St. Mary's on Tuesday
Unlike his teammate Oscar Tshiebwe, who said he wants to average 20 rebounds per game this season, Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler does not have a particular number of assists he wants to average. Instead, he just wants more than anyone else.
“I definitely want to lead the country in assists,” Wheeler said, matter of factly.
He’s off to a good start so far. Wheeler is tied for the nation’s lead in assists (with Marshall’s Andrew Taylor) at 11 per game. Wheeler will get a chance to add to his total on Tuesday night when the Cats host Mount St. Mary’s at Rupp Arena (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
In UK’s season-opening loss against Duke, Wheeler established early that he was going to be the one to make the Cats’ offense go. Wheeler had 16 points and 10 assists against the Blue Devils.
Then on Friday, he was at it again, only this time, it was even better. Wheeler had 12 assists without a turnover as the Cats rolled past Robert Morris at Rupp Arena.
While Wheeler is seen as someone who likes to pass first, he does note that he’s just trying to make the best play.
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| Kentucky vs. Mount St. Mary’s | ||
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Tue., Nov. 16 – 7:00 p.m. ET |
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| Coverage | ||
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TV: SEC Network |
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| UK | Stats | MSM |
| 1-1 | Record | 1-2 |
| 85.5 | PPG | 76.0 |
| 69.5 | Opp PPG | 77.7 |
| .469 | FG% | .483 |
| .446 | Opp FG% | .489 |
| 43.5 | RPG | 33.3 |
| .463 | 3PT FG% | .354 |
| .235 | Opp 3PT FG% | .411 |
| 19.5 | APG | 16.0 |
| 6.0 | SPG | 4.7 |
| 6.5 | BPG | 1.7 |
“I wouldn’t really consider myself a pass-first (point guard). I’m more of like a playmaker,” Wheeler said. “I have to make the right play, whatever the play is that possession. I know passing is one of my gifts. Having that confidence that whenever I can collapse the defense, I can kick it out and they can make the shot. That makes my job a whole lot easier.”
Wheeler was asked about his celebration during Friday’s game when seeing teammate Daimion Collins convert a dunk. He says it’s all about helping others and seeing them succeed.
“That’s how I am. I’m super excited when I see my teammates have success,” Wheeler said. “(Rebounds and assists) are stats that are about serving others. Assists, that’s me making guys better, me putting guys in positions where they can succeed.”
As for the Wildcats, Wheeler sees improvement in the team in practice on a daily basis.
“Everyone’s getting better every day,” Wheeler said. “We know what we’re really good at, we’re still emphasizing those things. We’re jelling on and off the court. We’re not playing an opponent, we’re playing ourselves, making sure we’re getting better every day.”
The Mountaineers come to Lexington with a 1-2 record. Mount St. Mary’s most recently lost to Saint Joseph’s 80-60. MSM opened its season with a 91-51 loss at Villanova, then beat Washington (Md.). Senior forward Malik Jefferson leads the team in scoring (13.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.3 rpg).
Friday’s game will be another opportunity for the Cats to put their hard work in practice into play on the court. And, especially on offense, that starts with the speedy Wheeler running the show.
Kentucky Thumps Robert Morris in Home Opener
Oscar Tshiebwe’s zeal for rebounding is obvious, to say nothing of his energy. No. 10/11 Kentucky fed off both qualities for a resounding 100- 60 victory over Robert Morris on Friday night.
Tshiebwe had 20 rebounds and 14 points, and Kellan Grady had 19 points, including four 3-pointers. Daimion Collins went 7 of 8 for 14 points and had a couple of highlight-reel dunks late in the game for Kentucky, while Keion Brooks Jr. and Davion Mintz added 13 points each and TyTy Washington Jr. had 10.
Michael Green III had 12 points and Kahliel Spear 10 for Robert Morris.
The Wildcats (1-1) led throughout the game just three days after a 79-71 loss to No. 9/9 Duke. They thrived in most every phase, shooting 12 of 23 from long range (52%.2) and 57.1% overall. UK also owned the glass (43-24) and held the overmatched Colonials (0-2) to just 37.7% shooting.
“That’s how (Kentucky coach John Calipari) coaches us,” Collins said. “Everything starts on the defensive end. We played great defense, and everything on the offensive end is going to work.”
Tshiebwe had a big hand in the Wildcats’ success. The West Virginia transfer continued to establish a physical presence on both ends with another 20-rebound performance, along with making 5 of 11 shots and blocking three shots. He grabbed Kentucky’s first five rebounds, and had several offensive boards that he converted to second- or third-chance baskets.
“That’s what I’m here for. I want to do big things,” said Tshiebwe, who had 10 rebounds on both ends. “I didn’t come here to have fun. Of course, we’re going to have fun, but I came in to be a warrior, to help this team and take them as far as we can.”
Tshiebwe’s rebounding prowess through two games is the most by a Wildcat in his debut season, and ESPN Stats & Info says he is tied with Louisiana Tech’s Paul Millsap for the most offensive rebounds (22) in a two-game span over the last 25 seasons.
So far, his teammates are amazed.
“I’ve never played with a guy like Oscar, who wants to rebound more than he almost wants to live,” Mintz said. “That’s all he talks about. In film (sessions), I hear mumbling in the back, ‘They can’t stop me, they won’t rebound.’ … I’ve never heard a guy like, really, really have a hunger to rebound.”
Sahvir Wheeler had 12 of Kentucky’s 24 assists. The Wildcats committed 10 turnovers, three fewer than they had against Duke. The difference this time was that Robert Morris managed just nine points off those mistakes while Kentucky scored 23 off 14 turnovers.
After managing just one foul and one turnover in 1:25 against Duke, Collins played longer and stronger against the Colonials. Besides his hot shooting, he added six rebounds, four blocks, three assists and a steal.
• The Wildcats are now 42-4 in home openers in Rupp Arena and a perfect 13-0 under Calipari
• Kentucky reached the 100-point mark for the first time since scoring 107 vs. UIC on Nov. 26, 2017 in a 107-73 win
• The Wildcats’ 40-point victory was their largest margin of victory since defeating Eastern Kentucky by 42 points (91-49) on Nov. 8, 2019
• With an up-tempo pace for much of the game, Kentucky scored 1.449 points per possession, the most since posting 1.47 points per possession vs. Alabama in the Southeastern Conference on March 11, 2016
• Six Wildcats scored in double figures, the first time that’s happened since Nov. 8, 2019, vs. Eastern Kentucky
• Tshiebwe’s 20 rebounds tied for the most by a UK player in Rupp Arena history (Chris Mills had 20 vs. Miami [Ohio] on Dec. 17, 1988, and Jared Prickett pulled down 20 vs. Arkansas on Feb. 9, 1994). Shaquille O’Neal (LSU) totaled 21 rebounds vs. UK on Feb. 15, 1990
• Wheeler’s 22 assists through two games is the best two-game total to start a Kentucky career
‘Big O’ Making Big Impression on the Boards
When Oscar Tshiebwe told everyone before the season that his goal was to average 20 rebounds per game, it was understandable for everyone to chuckle and chalk it up to a little hyperbole.
“We all laughed,” teammate Davion Mintz said. “Like, c’mon man. Twenty rebounds?”
Nobody — most notably opponents — is laughing now.
Through two games, “Big O,” as his teammates call him, has done what he set out to do with 20 rebounds vs. both No. 9/9 Duke and 20 more in the home-opening win against Robert Morris.
“Now, it’s normal,” Mintz said. “We’re expecting him to get 20.”
Tshiebwe’s 20.0 rebounds per game not only lead the nation through the first week of play, the 40 total boards is the most ever by a Wildcat in their first two games to start a career. The school record for rebounds per game is 17.7, set by Bob Burrow during the 1954-55 season.
The West Virginia transfer is making all kinds of history. His 20 boards vs. Duke set a Champions Classic record and marked the most rebounds for any Wildcat in their debut. And when he did it again vs. Robert Morris, it tied for the most by a Kentucky player in Rupp Arena history (Chris Mills had 20 vs. Miami [Ohio] on Dec. 17, 1988, and Jared Prickett pulled down 20 vs. Arkansas on Feb. 9, 1994). Only LSU’s Shaquille O’Neal has totaled more in Rupp Arena history. The Hall of Famer grabbed 21 boards vs. UK on Feb. 15, 1990.
Remarkably, Tshiebwe has hauled in 22 offensive rebounds in the first two games. According to ESPN Stats & Info, his 22 offensive boards in the first two games tied Louisiana Tech’s Paul Millsap for the most by an NCAA Division I player in any two-game span over the last 25 seasons.
“Silly” is how John Calipari described the dominance after the Robert Morris game. And perhaps the silliest number of all might be his offensive rebounding percentage, which is a nation-leading 39.5%. As a freshman in 2019-20 at West Virginia, Tshiebwe led the nation with a 19.0% offensive-rebounding percentage.
“Everybody wants to do fancy, different things, but for me, rebounding means a lot,” Tshiebwe said. “Rebounding can help your team to win the game. You give one more chance to your team. Since I figured it out, if I have to fight, I have to work for the rebound, I’m going to fight for that rebound like no one believes.”
And his focus on rebounding has paid dividends with second-chance scoring opportunities. He leads the team with a 15.5 scoring average and has double-doubles in both games with 17 points vs. Duke and 14 vs. Robert Morris.
