Oscar Tshiebwe glad God put both Bob Huggins and John Calipari in his life

Oscar Tshiebwe said Friday in New Orleans that he has learned a lot from both Bob Huggins and John Calipari. (Photo by AP/Gerald Herbert)

Remember the animosity/hard feelings that West Virginia coach Bob Huggins shared about Kentucky All-American Oscar Tshiebwe earlier this season.

Huggins questioned Tshiebwe’s work ethic and indicated his transfer to UK was not a big deal. Tshiebwe said very little other than West Virginia’s system was not best for him. He went on to have a spectacular season that has made him the consensus national player of the year.

Both Huggins and Kentucky coach John Calipari are Hall of Fame coaches. He was asked Friday what it had meant for him to play for both coaches and his answer was pure Oscar.

“I love both of them. I love both of them. To play for those Hall of Fame coaches, it is incredible for me because (it) started with Bob Huggins, Coach Huggins. I could never be what I am today if it was not for Bob Huggins. I learned to be tough. I learned to be the hardest worker. I learned to not to lean on somebody,” Tshiebwe said.

“You have to stay strong. Coach Huggins, he taught me to be mentally strong, and he just prepared for everything.”

He had as much love, or more, for Calipari after being named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association national player of the year.

“Coach Calipari is like my father. He is always by me. Always trying to make sure I’m doing good. He’s always trying to make sure if something’s wrong he’s there for me to help me, not just as basketball coach, but in my life, too,” Tshiebwe said.

“He has helped me a lot. He’s my mentor in everything I do that comes to basketball. He has done a great job for me, as you can see from West Virginia to here. He just carried me through another level of basketball.

“So I’m very happy for those two people in my life, what God has done for me.”