3 things to look for in Kentucky’s matchup vs. Missouri Western

Kentucky basketball season is here, as the Wildcats are set to take on Missouri Western State in their first exhibition game of the season. It’s a chance to see UK take on a different team in a live setting for the first time since the Bahamas exhibition tour in August.

A lot can change in two months, though. That’s when real preseason practice and conditioning begins, where serious development can take place. We got a taste of it in the Blue-White Game down in Pikeville last weekend, but now, it’s time for the real thing.

What should you be looking for when the Wildcats take on the Griffons tonight at Rupp Arena? KSR has you covered.

Unlikely, let’s put that out there now. Wheeler was a Bob Cousy Award finalist and led the SEC in assists his first year in Lexington. You won’t find a better playmaker capable of pushing the pace and creating easy looks for his teammates in the conference — and maybe in all of college basketball. He’s erratic and shooting struggles remain, but at his best, the 5-foot-9 guard is more than capable as Kentucky’s lead guard.

That being said, John Calipari’s words at Media Day this week are worth remembering going into the season, especially when you consider five-star signee Cason Wallace’s anticipated production in the backcourt.

“If we back up the defense for him, it hurts him,” Calipari said of Wheeler. “If he’s got to play a guy from the top of the key and in, it hurts him. Because it shows some of what he isn’t: 6-5. … I told him, ‘You got to be guarded. You can’t be a player out there that’s not being guarded, or you won’t be in. So, you got to be guarded. They got to respect you and your shot.’”

As for Wallace, Calipari says the 6-foot-4 guard is “probably a little more advanced” at this stage than most freshmen and he’s played “all point” in practice.

“I literally haven’t played him off the ball since we started,” he said. “I mean he’s been the other guy.”

With Wheeler out in Blue-White Game, Wallace stepped in as Kentucky’s starting point guard and finished with 15 points on 6-11 shooting and 3-6 from three to go with a game-high eight assists, two rebounds and two steals with zero turnovers. He was nothing short of sensational on both ends, living up to his status as a top-five recruit out of high school.

Ideally, you find a way to have both players in the lineup and it doesn’t really matter. Should shooting and turnover woes outweigh the value Wheeler brings as a playmaker, though, things could get interesting — especially if Wallace continues to impress.

A backup center to emerge with Oscar Tshiebwe out

Kentucky is expected to be without star center Oscar Tshiebwe for the entirety of the exhibition schedule after undergoing minor knee schedule earlier this month. He says he’ll “absolutely” be back for the regular season, but until then, it’ll be up to Lance Ware and Ugonna Onyenso to hold down the fort down…