Oscar Tshiebwe doesn't think anyone in the country can stop him from getting a rebound. (Jeff Houchin/Nolan Media)
Oscar Tshiebwe has a passion for rebounding few players do but also credits his time playing soccer as a major factor in why he’s now the nation’s top rebounder.
“I started playing basketball when I was 15. Before I played soccer and goalie. You have got to catch everything (playing goalie),” Tshiebwe said. “I fly for everything (to stop a goal). Somebody kicks the ball, they better not score. That really helped me when it came to basketball.”
How did it help?
“Every time you shoot the ball my mind is like a goalie and I do not want anybody to score. I feel like a goalie protecting the goal. For basketball, what I did in soccer as goalie helped me out. I tried to find the ball and go get it. I just want to go get the ball.”
He did credit West Virginia coach Bob Huggins for helping him understand positioning better and where to go to look for the ball after a missed shot. Huggins even had him run in practice if he didn’t go to the opposite side of the goal from where the ball was shot.
“That really helped me stop watching the ball,” Tshiebwe said. “I feel like I can get the ball. Nobody in the country can stop me from getting a rebound.”
Tshiebwe is averaging a nation-best 15.1 rebounds per game along with 17points per game. He’s shooting 62 percent from the field.
