Oscar Tshiebwe is back at Kentucky to win a national championship. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It’s not guaranteed that Oscar Tshiebwe will be able to play against Howard on Nov. 7, but the returning unanimous national player of the year sure made it clear Tuesday that he plans to be back out there playing for Kentucky despite his recent knee surgery.
“I had a pain, but I’m a warrior. Unless my wheel falls off, then I’ll stop. But if I got the pain, I keep going, I don’t quit,” Tshiebwe said. “I came back here for one reason: to work for No. 9 (national championship).”
Tshiebwe was a unanimous selection to the preseason Associated Press All-America team along with Drew Timme of Gonzaga — and he should have been. He’s only the ninth AP national player of the year to return for another season and Kentucky fans are thrilled that he did.
Tshiebwe put up historic rebounding numbers last year and made double-doubles seem routine.
He had what was called “minor” knee surgery Oct. 13 after UK’s Pro Day. He did not play in the Blue-White Game at Pikeville last Saturday or participate in Big Blue Madness Oct. 14.
Tshiebwe said Tuesday he “absolutely” would be back — or at least that was his plan.
“I don’t think I will miss any games,” Tshiebwe said. “The knee’s feeling better. We keep doing the rehab — it’s feeling great. Whatever they tell me, I’m ready to go.”
“It’s not something major, where you’re going to sit out all year, half of the year. I don’t think I will miss any games. I think I will be ready to go as soon as the season starts.”
Again, that is what Tshiebwe thinks. However, coach John Calipari is not sure about the timeline for his return.
“I don’t know. But he’s moving pretty good. He’s moving around. He’s got to stay off his feet,” Calipari said. “The kid will stay and sign autographs, take pictures. He’s got to stay off his feet.”
“So, when he trains it may swell a little bit, but it will go away. It will swell a little bit; it will go away. But he’s telling me, he says, I feel really good, my leg feels good. I don’t have the same pain, the pain that was there. He said it wasn’t much, but there’s nothing now.”
Calipari said he would not hold Tshiebwe back but also would not push him forward. Translation: Tshiebwe will determine when he’s ready to go.
“His pace and timing may be different than someone else. Someone else may be longer. Someone else may be shorter. I don’t know. But I do know he’s 252 pounds. He’s big. Seven percent body fat on top of it,” Calipari said.
Tshiebwe is a rare player on the court and person off the court. He turned down a chance to jump to the NBA to stay at UK another year and accomplish even more that Calipari seems to think is possible for the returning national player of the year.
“He’s a better passer. He’s a better dribbler. He has a better feel. He talks. Offensively, he knows the plays better. And he’s authentic,” Calipari said recently.
2 Responses
What a great human being. He has set a standard, a gold standard for the enthusiasm for all of collegiate sports. Not only for Kentucky but all schools, both on and off the court. His passion for the lord and sharing God word will guide many athletes to our Lord Jesus Christ. His mission is to spread the good news. He is a representative of God.
Well said Graham