Auburn had no answers for Oscar Tshiebwe. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Oscar Tshiebwe was in a really good mood after Saturday’s 32-point win over Auburn and even poked a little fun at himself.
“I talk to God all the time, I said ‘God, what are these people talking about? I can guard pick-and-roll,’” Tshiebwe joked about his defensive issues at times this season.
However, Tshiebwe said he also got another message from God.
“They can’t guard me, I talked to God. He told me, ‘Oscar, you are unstoppable. Go out there and dominate,’” Tshiebwe said after getting 22 points and 17 rebounds in a dominant performance.
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl didn’t need any divine intervention to tell him how dominant Tshiebwe was.
“(Kentucky) Guys are really comfortable in the roles. Tshiebwe’s playing dominant on the inside. We thought we could score on him a little bit and hurt him a little bit in the ball screen. But he did a nice job there,” Pearl said.
Tshiebwe had his 16th double-double of the season and 44th in 61 games in his two years at UK. He moved ahead of Jim Andrews for third place in UK history with his 44th double-double and it was his fifth game with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds this season.
“We need to enjoy what he’s doing because it’s just not normal. He’s doing some stuff that’s outrageous,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said.
He’s right. Tshiebwe has been so good that it is easy to take his rebounding for granted. He gets eight or nine rebounds in a game and we all wonder what happened.
The UK senior has made 20 of 23 shots from the field in the last two games. That’s an 87 percent mark. He was also 6-for-6 at the foul line against Auburn — the third time he’s done that in a game this season.
4 Responses
Oscar will go down as one of, if not THE most beloved UK basketball players ever at UK. I have been a fan for over 60 years. If I had ever been so blessed to have had a son, I would have wanted him to be like Oscar. I wish him good luck on the next chapter in his life. Hopefully, he will make it in the NBA but if not, overseas or whatever he chooses to do. I just love the guy and am going to miss his demeanor and proud love of God. GO CATS
We will never see another kid like Oscar. Coming back this year, he should have played at the 4 spot all season; Ware and Onyenso could have held down the 5 spot and we would have been a better team. Oscar, thank you for another year and if God is for you, who can be against you? Enjoy the game and whatever success comes your way; you have earned it.
So you would have had Toppin on the bench? That wouldn’t be a better team.
When Oscar goes up against a guy of the same stature he destroys them. When bigger and just as strong and mobile not so much.