Kentucky opened its 2022-23 season on Monday night at Rupp Arena against Howard. But the Cats were shorthanded in the first game of the campaign, missing three starters, including Oscar Tshiebwe, Daimion Collins and Sahvir Wheeler.
With Wheeler out of the lineup, someone needed to step into the role of running the offense and being the distributor.
Enter freshman Cason Wallace.
The Dallas native filled that role admirably in Monday’s contest as the Cats blew out Howard 95-63.
In the first half, as the Cats were feeling their way through Wheeler’s absence, Wallace had eight points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in 19 minutes.
Wallace continued his solid play in the second half, finishing the game just short of a triple double. He scored 15 points, hitting seven of 11 from the floor, including one of two from behind the arc. He dished out nine assists, grabbed eight rebounds and had a pair of steals in his official UK debut.