Sahvir Wheeler addresses awkward Tom Crean neck hug

Sahvir Wheeler is finally healthy and back in Kentucky’s lineup, but the memory of that awkward neck hug with his former coach Tom Crean before the Georgia game remains. Wheeler was asked about the interaction during a Zoom with reporters this morning.

“He was just like, ‘What’s up, get healthy,’ along those lines,” Wheeler said. “It wasn’t necessarily awkward but he did grab my neck; that made me uncomfortable a little bit. There was nothing out of the regular, just asking how I was doing and telling me to get healthy.”

Does Wheeler regret not being able to play vs. his former squad?

“I didn’t have any feelings towards it,” Wheeler said before trailing off in laughter.

AKA, the 92-77 score said it all.

Wheeler proud of teammates’ performance in his absence

Wheeler was knocked out of the LSU game less than four minutes in after running into a hard screen by Tigers big man Efton Reid. He sat out the next two games to allow his neck to heal from the collision. Kentucky easily took care of business vs. Georgia and Vanderbilt, which Wheeler said was encouraging to see from the sidelines.

“I don’t really think I learned anything [from watching on the sidelines], per se, but it was great to see how much confidence those guys were playing with. We were playing loose, playing off TyTy [Washington], Oscar [Tshiebwe], Kellan [Grady], Keion [Brooks], Davion [Mintz], their success. Even Jacob [Toppin] had a pretty good game at LSU. Guys are on a high. Guys are playing confident, playing for each other, playing loose.”

Even though the Cats played well with TyTy Washington running point, they hit another gear upon Wheeler’s return vs. Tennessee. Kentucky turned in one of if not the best offensive performances of the Calipari Era vs. the Vols, winning 107-79. Now back in his role as the floor general, Wheeler is determined to keep the team on the right track.

“When I came back, I didn’t want to interrupt that at all since guys were in a rhythm. I just came back making sure everybody’s good, everybody’s happy. Moving the ball. Being unselfish. And when I had my opportunities, I took them.

“We’re playing really well right now and I’m here so we can kind of stay on that. Keep these guys motivated, keeping them loose, keeping them focused on that main goal like hey, we’re not done. Just because we won a game, this is not over. We have higher expectations of winning the whole thing.”