Who else other than Oscar Tshiebwe could be player of the year

Oscar Tshiebwe is a double-double when it comes to scoring and rebounding but he can also get down on defense -- and even clap as he does it. (Vicky Graff Photo)

College basketball analysts are lining up to name Oscar Tshiebwe the national player of the year — and it’s easy to see why. The Kentucky junior center has been dominant most of the season. In 27 games,  he has 443 points, 411 rebounds, 52 steals, 38 blocks and30 assists while shooting 59.3 percent from the field. That comes out to 16.4 points, 15.2 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.3 blocks, and 1.1 assists per game.

He had 21 points and 14 rebounds in Saturday’s win over Alabama — his 21st double-double of the year and ninth straight double-double — the first UK player to do that since Jim Andrews had 10 straight during the 1972-73 season.

He has five games with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds. No UK player since Kenny Walker in 1984-85 has had five games with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds and he is the only SEC player in the last 25 years to have five games like that. Tshiebwe also has 13 straight games with double-figure rebounds and nine games with 20 or more points.

“I  would say there may be a couple players that are having more of an impact on games than him, but I’d have to see them, and I’d have to say over the long haul, he’s doing things that haven’t been done for 45 years,” said Kentucky coach John Calipari.

Yet numbers really cannot do justice to just how special Tshiebwe has been at Kentucky this season. His off-court presence is what separates Tshiebwe from most players.

That’s why UK point guard Sahvir Wheeler had the perfect answer when asked about Tshiebwe’s player of the year credentials.

“I wish there was a person of the year,” Wheeler said. “I think that’s more telling, just Oscar as a person. I believe that’s why all of the success is coming back to him. The way he is selfless and the way he’s looking to give back and the way he takes his time to be with others who are in his circle and in his vicinity — putting a smile on someone else’s face and that comes back to you and some people call it karma.”

Tshiebwe spent time Friday speaking at a local school with students from Africa. He said he knows what he went through coming to the United States are similar to what he experienced. He said he wanted to help them understand it would not be easy and encourage them to keep working hard.

“I’m happy I got to stop by and visit them and talk to them,” Tshiebwe said after the Florida win.

Calipari said it was “ridiculous” — and he meant that in a good way — what Tshiebwe’s visit did for the students as well as him with his visit.

The UK center stayed a long time after the Florida win signing autographs for fans who lined up waiting for him. It’s not the first time he’s done that and likely will not be the last.

“You have to make history with people and make them happy — enjoy these moments,” Tshiebwe said after the recent win over Florida. “I love our fans and I will do anything for them. I am probably going to go back there for probably another 15 to 20 minutes. I have to make sure I sign their stuff and take a picture with those little kids.”

He stayed way longer than 15 minutes but does so with a smile on his face that fans love. He did the same thing after the win over Alabama.

Kentucky fan Jay Ising shared how his daughter had a “tough week and needed some inspiration.” He sent a request for a Cameo video message from Tshiebwe.

“He graciously sent an awesome message to Maddie. Kentucky athletics is doing something right between Oscar in basketball and Kayla Kowalik in softball. Such ambassadors to these young athletes. Seeing Maddie’s smile made all the difference,” Jay Ising said.  “We had also heard that while Oscar is here on a student visa his NIL (name, image, and likeness) was limited to things like Cameo,  so I am going to have a message sent to my son for football next.”

That’s the kind of love/support Tshiebwe gets from UK fans and he does not take it for granted.

“They care and come to support us,” he said. “I can do anything for them. I am just so grateful to see people cheering like that. It is a blessing, so anything for them, we can do it.”

“I am encouraging my teammates to do exactly the same thing because these people – the way they care about us, the way they follow us everywhere – I want to say it is crazy. I’ve never seen something like this in my life. I am just enjoying this moment and I am taking advantage of it.”

Calipari knows there could be some “bias” about voting for a player from Kentucky as player of the year but he’s not sure how anyone could not like Tshiebwe.

“The reality of it is if you watch and you see who he is, you’ve got to love the kid. He plays so hard. He never says a word about the officials. He smiles,” Calipari said. “He plays his heart out. He doesn’t play great every night out, but he impacts every game.

Calipari believes Tshiebwe just has to finish the season doing what he does best and there will be no doubt about who the national player of the year should be.

“I’m trying to get him to stop worrying about offense so he’ll score. Stop worrying about missing a shot and a free throw, stop worrying about missing one-footers. If you get 15 rebounds a game the rest of the way, you’re going to be player of the year anyway, and if you stop worrying about offense, you’ll score more. Wow, isn’t it funny how that works?” Calipari said.