Could Oscar Tshiebwe become single season rebounding leader at Kentucky

Only seven UK players have ever had 400 or more rebounds in a single season and Oscar Tshiebwe is one of them. After pulling off 15 rebounds against Mississippi, he has 460 this season — third-best on the list and now ahead of Bob Burrow (459), Frank Ramsey (434), Julius Randle (417), and Anthony Davis (415).

Tshiebwe should become only the third UK player ever to reach 500 rebounds if the Cats perform as expected in postseason play. Bill Spivey (567) and Cliff Hagan (528) are one-two on UK’s all-time single-season rebounding list.

Kentucky plays Saturday at Florida. If the Cats also play two SEC games and let’s say three NCAA Tournament games, Tshiebwe would push his rebounding total to 550 if he averages 15 boards per game — his average this season. That would easily get him past Hagan and if UK has more games and he rebounds like he has all year, he could easily become UK’s all-time single-season rebounding leader.

Davis needed 40 games to get his 415 rebounds. Randle needed 40 to reach 417. Tshiebwe has now played in only 30 games.

Going into Saturday’s game at Florida he has 12 straight double-doubles to tie the record set by Dan Issel during the 1969-70 season. He has also scored in double figures 12 straight games and has 17 straight games with 10 or more rebounds.

“He’s always in the gym,” Kentucky point guard Sahvir Wheeler said. “He’s always looking to get better and takes constructive criticism, even when the coaches are a little harder on him.

“He always does it with a smile on his face. For us to see him perform the way he does, you’ve got to want him to be player of the year.”

What makes this even better is that Tshiebwe is having so much fun with his teammates.

“We bring joy and happiness with how we love each other,” he said. “We care a lot about each other. We are not selfish. We share the ball.

“I just love being part of this team. I am motivated that everybody plays so hard. For us it is not about individuals but it is about the team. We got to play as a team to accomplish what we are looking to do.”

Tshiebwe is averaging 5.3 offensive rebounds per game and Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said he showcases his “incredible energy” in the open court.

“When he runs in transition offense, it’s like he’s in a track meet. He’s probably the best rim-runner that I’ve seen in college basketball,” Musselman said.  “He’s incredibly explosive as an offensive rebounder.

You’re going to have to hold your ground, too. You’re going to need to have a wide base when you box out. If you’re not a physical block-out player and you skinny block out, you’re going to get pushed underneath the rim, and he’s going to grab the ball and dunk it.”