Oscar Tshiebwe would have Tennessee coach Rick Barnes' vote for national player of the year. (Vicky Graff Photo)
For only the second time this season Oscar Tshiebwe was named Southeastern Conference player of the week after averaging 22.5 points and 16.5 rebounds per game in wins over South Carolina and Florida. Andy Katz also named Tshiebwe the March Madness national player of the week
Tshiebwe also was recognized as the National Player of the Week by March Madness’ Andy Katz. It’s the second time this season Katz has honored Tshiebwe as the overall national player of the week.
Kentucky plays at Tennessee tonight and Tshiebwe has made a believer out of Tennessee coach Rick Barnes even though he had only nine points in UK’s 107-79 win over the Vols in Rupp Arena.
“You can’t talk about national player of the year without bringing his name up. The numbers that he is putting up are incredible, and the consistency with which he does it with,” Barnes said. “The fact that he does it when every coach before the game is trying to slow him down; no one has found a way to do that.”
“John (Calipari) and his staff have done a great job putting him in areas to be successful and Tshiebwe has responded well to that. Again, you can’t mention national player of the year candidate without mentioning his name.”
Tshiebwe is leading UK in points per game (16.4), rebounds per game (15.3), steals per game (2.0), blocks per game (1.4) and field-goal percentage with a minimum of 100 attempts (60.2 percent). Since the 1978-79 season, only Anthony Davis in 2011-12 has led the team in those five categories.
Tshiebwe has five 20-point, 15-rebound games — the most for a UK player since Kenny Walker also had five in 1984-85. He has 15 or more rebounds in a nation-leading 12 games this season, and with 382 rebounds has 67 more rebounds than the next closest player in college basketball this season.
What makes him so good? Barnes has his opinion.
“He has really good instincts and he’s going to fight off your first block out, so you have to stay with him,” the Tennessee coach said. “He gets his hands up well, he’s quick to the ball, and if he misses his shot, he has that quick jump to go up and get the ball.
“He has terrific instincts in terms of being in the right position to get the rebound.”
