Vicky Graff Photo
Oscar Tshiebwe was perhaps the biggest story in college basketball last season when he was a double-double machine, an inspiration off the court and the unanimous player of the year.
He’s becoming a huge story again but not for the same reasons. No, this time it is because of what he’s not doing.
Against Florida on Saturday, he was 2-for-14 from the field after going 4-for-10 the previous game against Mississippi. Kentucky still won both games but it didn’t win Tuesday night when Arkansas thumped the host Cats 88-73 in Rupp Arena. Tshiebwe shot 50 percent but he got only six shots. He also had his second lowest rebounding total with seven.
Earlier this season he went 1-for-7 from the field with six rebounds in a one-sided loss at Alabama. He was 4-for-12 from the field but did have 16 rebounds when UK lost to UCLA.
However, what jumped off Tuesday was that sophomore Daimion Collins, who has barely played this year, had seven points on 3-for-4 shooting in just eight minutes of play.
So what did Arkansas do to take Tshiebwe out of the game?
“There was one point I said we’re throwing it to him every time, and we were trying to get it into him. I thought he worked at times, and other times they were getting around the post,” Calipari said.
“They trapped him or they just bodied him. I was doing some stuff to let him get some jump shots, to just get him going, and he’s got to be better for us, and he will be. He will be.”
ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes made it sound a little bit more problematic now that teams are getting even more physical with Tshiebwe.
“Oscar is a phenomenal runner rim to rim but they (Arkansas) want to meet him with contact and keep a body on him,” Dykes said. “Arkansas is not letting Oscar get to his spot. They are roughing him up and not letting him have any free runs.”
Former UK All-American/UK Radio Network analyst Jack Givens said it was a difficult game for Tshiebwe and UK.
“Arkansas did a good job pushing him off the block,” Givens said.
So with Tshiebwe struggling not only to score but also to keep Arkansas from scoring, why not give Collins more playing time?
“As a coach, you go with what got you there, and I wanted to — it was a bigger picture for Oscar than just this game. It was like, let’s get him going just to get him right,” Calipari said. “But you have got to do it on the defensive end, not just offense.”
Givens said he thought Collins was “coming long” and Dykes said Tshiebwe could not go get lobs nearly as well as Collins.
But Calipari is loyal and often loyal to a fault. He could also be right that if Tshiebwe doesn’t stop complaining about calls, getting knocked out of the way and doesn’t get his mind back in the game (twice he was called for lane violations on free throws), then UK’s season might be over any way.
Kentucky assistant coach Bruiser Flint indicated it might not be that complicated for Tshiebwe to become a huge factor like he was last year.
“One thing he has to do is run more and beat guys down the floor,” Flint said. “That’s the one thing he did an unbelievable job of last year and would get deep in the paint and either you grab me or I will get a bucket.
“He also has to understand what the other team is doing. But the No. 1 thing for him to get back to scoring is just beat guys down the floor.”
Sounds simple but apparently it has been harder to do or else Tshiebwe just has not exerted himself as much as he did last year.
Which is it — you decide.
14 Responses
I’m not going to bash Oscar. But one terrible annoying habit he has seem to form is holding both hands , palms up after a play doesn’t work out , or a missed shot , . Instead of just running. Ya it sucks..he gets mugged alot. But how many times does the refs stop the game as the ball is going to the other end of the court and the play goes on.
I don’t like him doing that either Grant
The problem is not Oscar.
The problem is not this team.
The problem is the coach.
Absolutely
The better teams have made adjustments to make things harder for Oscar. Calipari needs to counter this with adjustments of his own that take what these new defensive schemes offer. I thought Toppin’s game against Florida was part of the answer, but he didn’t come through against the hogs. Collins should have played more. If Frederick is hurt, he doesn’t need to be on the floor; play Thiero more. Give Livingston more freedom to pick up the load. Start Reeves in Frederick’s spot…do something different. Teams are locking in on what we have been doing.
Maybe NIL has something to do with it. It’s a lot harder to run up & down the floor if you are at the top of the mountain instead of trying to get there. Last year Oscar was trying to get there. That happens in the NBA. Sign Max contract & then the players game tails off.
Is Oscar even 6’6? He is undersized n length bothers him. That injury has maybe affected him. And cj (don’t hate me) is a d1 naia player at best, Not an SEC dude. Teams can dbl O bc UKs lack of shooters. Cason is a dog, and Livingston too if Cal will turn him loose. Collins has difficulty guarding n staying intense on D but I do want more minutes for him. Cals subbing sux at times. Where did a few Lance Ware tufness mins go 🤔
The problem is the coach has done nothing to help prepare Oscar for the next level. He is not a true center and will not be one if he goes pro. They should have been prepping him as a power forward facing the basket more and learning to put the ball on the floor more and not with his back to the basket. This way he could have become a better rebounder like a Rodman. Right now they need to play two bigs.
Agree with Michael. Cal is humiliating Oscar by running one offense. Get the ball to Oscar in deep. BAM teams know that and swarm him. n he tries to force up a guarded shot instead of kicking it back out. and they all know as the Hog guard said . we know Oscar is week on pick n roll so they just run it over n over and Oscar leaves biggie and it opens up a big lane for easy basket.
I’ve said from beginning Collins shoud be the next star and here Cal wont play him. Lets face it Oscar is too small to play 5 D. he is not going to play that in next level. after these last few games I am worried for his future.
You want to stuff the paint D play collins and 7 footer Owonay
It isnt rocket science Cal
As soon as Cal put Frederick in the game they had 6 good wins,Cal needs to do a better job coaching
Have to be able to face the basket.
All you guys have valid points, esp Barry. Oscar is not as hungry as he was and needs to ramp up his game and become a better interior passer. Collins should have played at least 15 minutes—quit protecting him from becoming the player he should be! This team still does not have an identity. Sad to say but I believe Cal’s days are numbered. We are only the 5th best team in the SEC.
GO VILLE!!! GO BURN YOUR COUCHES you KY HILLJACKS🤣
I agree with most comments. It’s tough to keep star players happy with playing time. Coach C needs to rotate minutes to other players. Might find a spark to make March Madness exciting again. Goooo Bigggg Bluuu!!
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