Oscar Tshiebwe has now won one national player of the year award but more should be coming. (Vicky Graff Photo)
If Oscar Tshiebwe needs a publicity agent, point guard Sahvir Wheeler might be his guy. The Kentucky junior is having a remarkable season and was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Monday.
Wheeler said Tuesday that honor was a given.
“He’s national player of the year so pretty sure he should be our league’s player of the year,” Wheeler said. “If you don’t think he is player of the Year, I honestly don’t think you understand basketball.
“The fact that he has done on both ends of the court kind of speaks for itself. He’s efficient. He makes shots. He can score on you on the post. He defends. He protects the rim. He is active with his hands. He impacts winning and the spirit he does it with also helps him as well.”
Twenty-four hours later Sporting News named Tshiebwe as the national player of the year — the only other UK player to win that award in its 60-plus years of existence was Anthony Davis in 2012. It should also be the first of several player of the year awards for Tshiebwe.
Tshiebwe is averaging a team-best 17.3 points and nation-best 15.3 rebounds per game. He could become the first Division I player to average at least 15 points and 15 rebounds in 42 years and the first major-conference player to average at least 16 points and 15 rebounds since Bill Walton at UCLA 49 years ago.
He is also the only major conference player averaging at least 1.5 blocked shots and 1.5 steals per game.
Tshiebwe’s personality has made him a fan favorite but also a favorite with teammates.
“You guys (in the media) see it. You are not just sitting home doing interviews,” Wheeler said. “You see how he interacts with fans. He takes time to sign every autograph, take every picture. He communicates with everybody that tries to get in contact with him.”
Freshman guard TyTy Washington said Tshiebwe is never “mad or down” and is always smiling.
“I told him, ‘Dude, it is okay to be a little mad.’ I try my best to rough him up and crack jokes. None of that works. He is still going to be the same. I call him the Big Friendly Giant,” Washington said. “He’s just a really good dude. His energy touches the team.”
4 Responses
This year’s edition (win or lose) is my fave since I watched my first game in 1966 (I cried) and traveled the BBN road for many games during my 30’sa and 40’s with frat brothers and others. Lived in Carolina 25 years and Florida 20. But, there’s nothing like Kentucky Basketball. Congrats to the team this year for representing what a "team" looks like to the outside world. Keep Marching and stay maddening…
Strong praise Thom but they really are fun
I have been a wildcat fan for 78 years I am 85 ,86 in 22 days a kid I would pretend I was Cliff Hagen or Ralph Beard, and shoot a homemade ball at a bucket nailed to a board and a elite post, but I believe O.Tshi. is one of the Ky.best.hope he comes back next year I want to see him in person, didn’t get to go to a game this year do too health issues, GO CATS LOVE BIG BLUE!!!!
I hope you get to see him
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