Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky speaks as he is introduced as The Associated Press men's basketball player of the year, in New Orleans, Friday, April 1, 2022. The 6-foot-9, 255-pound junior received 46 of 60 votes from a national media panel. Wisconsin's Johnny Davis was second with 10 votes. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
How excited are Kentucky basketball fans that Oscar Tshiebwe will be back for another season after sweeping the national player of the year awards this season?
I think a tweet from country music singer/UK fan J.D. Shelburne put it all in perspective Wednesday a few minutes after Tshiebwe’s announcement: “If Oscar wins the ninth NCAA chip at UK after coming back winning NPOTY, my opinion he goes down as Cal’s best player ever surpassing Davis, Wall etc. Get ready.”
Guess what? I think he could be right.
John Wall was great but did not win a national championship. Anthony Davis was great and did win a national championship. Both were No. 1 overall picks in the NBA draft. But neither stayed a second year at Kentucky and neither were seen as the saviors of the program because UK was in such good shape when both left.
Now Kentucky is coming off a 9-16 season two years ago and a NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Saint Peter’s this season. Fans are unhappy. Some recruits are wondering about Kentucky’s future.
But Tshiebwe having the faith to return calms a lot of fears and could make UK the No. 1 team in preseason polls.
He is the first national player of the year to return to school since Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina. ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes pointed out on Twitter that Hansbrough led North Carolina to the 2009 national championship — the dream Shelburne and other UK fans now have for Tshiebwe.
Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points per game and 15.1 rebounds, the best mark in the nation, last season. But think about this. His return means 22 percent of the points, 38 percent of the rebounds, 38 percent of the blocks, 26 percent of the steals and 26 percent of the made free throws from the 2021-22 season are back just because of Tshiebwe.
Tshiebwe had been trending to a return to UK — and not just for name, image and likeness money that he apparently is now going to be able to enjoy. No, Tshiebwe is just different. At a recent crusade in Harrodsburg, he told me how much he enjoyed sharing God’s word across the state and how proud he knew his late father — a minister — would be of him for what he was doing.
He announced his return to UK on ESPN Sportscenter and said he was not a person to make decisions with asking for God’s advice — something he repeated all season.
“I pray for it and ask God what is good for me,” Tshiebwe said.
He told God he always wanted to be a lottery pick in the NBA draft and wondered why he was not projected to be after sweeping national player of the year honors.
“God told me he is not done with me at this place yet. I will be back again. I will be here next year at Kentucky. I will be in the blue again at Kentucky,” Tshiebwe said on ESPN.
I’m not sure I’ve ever been around another athlete this talented who has been quite like Tshiebwe. His smile is priceless and his faith is so genuine.
His return is great for Kentucky, but might be even better for college basketball because how could anyone not love Oscar.
Kentucky fan Julie Kidd Burd said it perfectly in a post on Twitter:
“Tears of joy listening to the announcement. It’s bigger than basketball. God’s work is unfinished with him. Cannot wait to see the blessings in his future. Thank you, @Oscartshiebwe34, for loving and embracing our school and BBN. ~ Matthew 19:26 #BBN.”
15 Responses
Wow Oscar is coming back. I love that news.
Wow, the National Player of the Year is a supposed late second round pick? Who on next year’s team will make Oscar better? Wheeler can’t or won’t make a post pass and I doubt that any of the other guards will do so either. Calipari won’t play him as a 4 where he could work on an outside shot even though he doesn’t have a legitimate 4 guy. Without a respectable power forward, Oscar will see double and triple teams all season long. I pray that Oscar doesn’t get hurt or get Caliparied like Bam Adebayo did.
Agree with all of this!
Who dat , your so negative about everything, I don’t think I’m the only one don’t think your a cat fan.
79, actually he’s a nobody. Of course he will see double and triple teams next year. It doesn’t take a mental heavy weight to figure that out. How can you use Bam as a negative example? He is one Bad Dude!
Duh, you really should have stayed in school until the 5th grade Jim. Bam averaged 9 points a game at UK because Calipari let his wings take all of the shots. If Oscar didn’t get so many offensive rebounds, he would have averaged single digit scoring. Thankfully, Pat Riley saw the potential in Bam that we never got to see his year at UK. That is what Calipari does to bigs and its why he can’t recruit any to come here anymore. Find someone to explain the multi-syllable words to you Jim.
79, you and Jim are the only ones who disagree with me, get over it!
Your a complete idiot. People don’t believe you were ever a Ky. fan.
I second that Cats79
I’m on board with 79. Got to be behind with what we god and go with it.
Maybe elementary school only goes to the 3rd grade in eastern KY?
whodat, Notice how the head line says "fans" thrilled to have him back. You fake whiney weiner. He will make 2-5 million in NIL deals compared to $952,000 as the 38th pick. My 3rd grade education tells me he made the right decision. You would never make it on "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader"?
We simply need a true center, tall and long, rim protector with at least a small modicum of offensive ability to take the load off of Oscar so he can play his true NBA position.
Oscar was playing double duty on both ends of the court which was great most of the time, but we need someone to combat the Reids, Kesslers, Plavsics, Williams (Duke), Williams (ark) of the world, mostly on the defensive end. Oscar had to hold back so much defensively to keep himself out of foul trouble against other teams’ length, our defensive efficiency fell drastically.
Small ball works most of the time, but some teams’ require a different approach and we didn’t have that luxury this year. Cant wait to see who wants to join Oscar in the front court now out of the transfer portal or high level HS prospect!
Let’s go Oscar! #9
I want to go back to the reason for the article, Oscar’s faith. He not only made an impact on the court and in the eyes of the people across the nation, but the impact he has made in the locker room that we will never know with players and coaches. It is a complete turnaround from last year’s team that was so selfish and look where it got them not even in the NIT. So yes I truly believe Oscar was a God sent to not only impact the team but the UK campus, the State of Ky and the Nation. I pray every day for him as I do my own child at UK that God uses all Christian students on campus. Praise be to God.
Oscar definitely is a game-changer on and off the court