Wheeler is Little Big Man as UK crushes UNC, 98-69

Sahvir Wheeler might have been the shortest guy on the floor but he played the biggest as the Wildcats smoked the Tarheels. It was the second-largest margin of victory for the Wildcats in the history of the series, one that Carolina still leads, 25-17. UK has won six of the last nine matchups with UNC.  Here’s everything you need to know (Photos courtesy UK Athletics): 

Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky improved to 8-2 this season with the victory Saturday. UK snapped a five-game North Carolina winning streak to drop the Tar Heels to 8-3 in 2021-22.
• The Wildcats’ 29-point margin was the second largest margin in the series’ history. UK’s 39-point win on Jan. 9, 1950 is the largest. Kentucky won that game 83-44.
• UK cut UNC’s series lead to 25-17 and 13-7 in games played at neutral sites.
  • Kentucky is 2-0 vs. the Tar Heels in games played in T-Mobile Arena.
  • UK has won six of the last nine matchups vs. UNC.
• The Wildcats are now 4-4 in the CBS Sports Classic, including 3-1 vs. North Carolina.
  • The Tar Heels lead the four-team event with a 5-3 mark, but the Wildcats have handed the Tar Heels all three of their losses in the annual event.
  • UK was originally slated to play Ohio State and UNC was scheduled to face UCLA, but both teams had to withdraw from the event due to COVID-19 results within their respective programs.
    • The event’s current ledger: UNC is 5-2, Ohio State is 4-3, UK is 4-4 and UCLA is 2-5.

• The Wildcats notched their first victory away from Rupp Arena this season in their third try.
  • They are 1-1 in neutral-site games this season.
• Next up: Kentucky heads home to host archrival Louisville on Wednesday at Rupp Arena. That game will be televised by ESPN at 6 p.m. p.m. ET.

Team Notes

• Kentucky led by as many as 35 points. UK is 294-12 in the John Calipari era when leading by at least 10 points at any time in the contest.
• In a battle of two of the nation’s best rebounding teams, the Wildcats flexed their muscles by beating the bigger, taller Tar Heels 44-26.
  • UK is 8-1 this season when it outrebounds the opposition.
  • Kentucky entered the game No. 1 in the country with a plus-16.3 rebounding margin. UNC was ranked 13th coming into Saturday with a plus-10.7 edge per game.
  • The Wildcats grabbed 17 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points.
• The Wildcats made 39 of 72 shots, the fourth time this season they have shot 50% or better.
  • They are 4-0 this season when making 50% or better from the floor and 8-0 when outshooting their opponent.
• UK also made 8 of 15 from 3-point range.
  • It’s the second time this season the Cats have hit at least 50% of their 3-point shots with victories in both of those games.
• Kentucky dished out 20 assists with nine turnovers.
  • It’s the third time this season the Wildcats have dished out at least 20 assists with wins in both of those games.

Player Notes

• Coming off a 0-for-5 shooting night against Notre Dame last week, Sahvir Wheeler responded to the adversity sensationally with a season-high 26 points, eight assists and a season-high four steals.
  • It was his sixth game in double-figure scoring this season but his first since Nov. 26 vs. North Florida, snapping a three-game single-digit scoring drought.
  • Wheeler was 12 of 15 from the floor, a career high for field goals made.
  • Ranked second national in assists per game entering Saturday with 7.7 per game, Wheeler notched his fifth game this season with at least eight assists.
• Oscar Tshiebwe continued his early season All-America campaign with his eighth double-double in 10 games, posting 16 points to go along with a game-high 12 rebounds in 22 minutes.
  • Tshiebwe was 7 of 12 from the floor.
  • The nation’s leading rebounder entering the game notched his ninth double-figure rebounding game of the season.
• With 18 points, Kellan Grady scored in double figures for the third time this season but the first time since Nov. 22 vs. UAlbany.
  • Five of Grady’s field goals were from 3, a season high.
  • He also added a season-high six rebounds.
• Keion Brooks Jr. contributed 10 points, marking the sixth game he’s reached double figures this season.

Coach Calipari

• John Calipari is now 347-95 at UK.
• Calipari now has a 792-235 all-time on-court record.
• UK improved to 283-56 under Calipari in games vs. unranked Associated Press competition.
• Calipari is now 8-4 in all-time meetings vs. North Carolina.
• The Wildcats moved to 80-28 in neutral-site games under Calipari’s watch.