Oscar Tshiebwe is only about “85 percent” according to John Calipari after his Oct. 13 knee surgery. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Finally John Calipari has sort of admitted what many University of Kentucky fans have thought since the season started — Oscar Tshiebwe is still not fully recovered from the “minor” knee surgery he had before the season started.
Tshiebwe was the unanimous national player of the year last season. He played in exhibition games when UK went to the Bahamas in August. He went through Pro Day in early October and had what Calipari called an “unbelievable” performance.
“He refused to sit out Pro Day and balled out,” Calipari posted on social media. “I made him sit out Mon. and get examined as a precaution. … Not a big deal, but no dancing at (Big Blue) Madness!”
However, on Oct. 11 Calipari announced that Tshiebwe needed “minor” knee surgery that he had on Oct. 13.
Tshiebwe did miss Big Blue Madness but at UK’s Media Day insisted he would be ready to play when the season started. Calipari didn’t act like it would be a big deal, either.
Instead, Tshiebwe missed UK’s two exhibition games and first two regular season games before playing against Michigan State on Nov. 15 — about a month after his minor knee surgery.
Tshiebwe has now played in six games and is averaging 14.1 points and 13.5 rebounds per game. He had 13 points and 14 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Michigan in London. The previous game against Bellarmine he had eight points, 12 rebounds and three blocks.
But Tshiebwe has not looked quite as fluid or athletic this season.
On his weekly radio show Wednesday night, Calipari said Tshiebwe is not yet 100 percent even though he is still putting up numbers most players would love to have. Calipari estimated that Tshiebwe was “only 85 percent” now.
Calipari said it was “crazy” that Tshiebwe is doing what he has done “without much lift.”
Kentucky hosts Yale Saturday and then plays UCLA in New York on Dec. 17. If Tshiebwe is only 85 percent — and I don’t doubt Calipari’s analysis — then why not just not play him Saturday. Let Jacob Toppin start at the five and use Chris Livingston at the four — remember Calipari wants a way to play him more. Give Tshiebwe a little more time to heal.
Will Calipari do that? I doubt it but it sure seems like he should.
8 Responses
Calipari is a complete waste
Larry, your suggestion makes too much sense, but doubt that Calipari will take it. I would let Ware and Onyenso have those minutes at the 5, Toppin and Collins at the 4, Reeves and Frederick at the 3 (they both seem to prefer playing on either wing), Livingston and Thiero at the 2 (Livingston can guard that position and dominate as a rebounder. He has a decent shot too) Wallace and Wheeler at the 1 with Wallace getting the bulk of the minutes. Wheeler won’t like a reserve role, but it’s in the team’s best interest that he accept it. Oscar could possibly sit out the UCLA game too. He needs to be healthy for SEC play.
“He refused to sit out Pro Day and balled out,” Calipari posted on social media. “I made him sit out Mon. and get examined as a precaution."
What has always seemed inexplicable, is why his refusal "to sit out Pro Day and balled out" is significant to this story in Calipari’s mind. Why not have Oscar "examined as a precaution" prior to this "Pro Day" event?
As this story continues to drag out and haunt this team, people should be asking this coach whether Oscar really ailing prior to "balling out" on Calipari’s "Pro Day" or did Oscar injure himself while "balling out" on Calipari’s "Pro Day"?
We all know the emphasis that this coach places on moving his players from their 1 year of NBA purgatory into the NBA. Thus this coach’s invention of a pre-season Pro Day so these NBA-destined players will know prior to playing the season what skills they must put on display during their time here in order to reach the promised land the following June. This entire concept is an aberration of the way a college basketball program should function. But, it demonstrates that this coach’s priorities are turned on their heads and do not have the UK program success at the top of his list.
If Oscar was injured prior to this "Pro Day" then why didn’t this coach not only insist that Oscar not participate but address this prior injury situation long before October? It seems negligent to me for him not to have done each of these things.
If Oscar was not injured prior to this "Pro Day" then what happened during the "Pro Day" to trigger medical examinations on the Monday following it? If the reigning player of the year sustained such a serious injury during Calipari’s unnecessary "Pro Day" isn’t that negligent conduct as well on this coach’s part.
This guy has been systematically destroying the once great UK basketball program in the name of his litany of NBA draft picks. This decline will continue so long as he remains, and the greater this decline, the more difficult it will be for those who follow this fraud to restore the program to the national prominence that we all expect.
These questions should be asked and answered. If they have been asked and answered, why haven’t the answers been reported?
I have a question Larry.
I don’t try to hide that I’m tired of Cal.
From what you see is the majority of the fan base tired of him as well or does the majority still support him?
I personally do not know anyone that still supports Cal.
I also would like to hear Larry V’s thoughts about your question, but from my spot in this crazy world, I would say most fans are still enamored by Calipari, just as they were tied to Tubby Smith in large numbers even though it was clear he would never field a final four team.
Great question UK1996champs that is hard to answer. Definitely a bigger percentage that has Cal fatigue but still an awful lot that like him as the coach. To me, this is critical year. He needs not just a good year but a great year
Thanks Larry for answering my question.
You are spot on Larry.