(Vicky Graff Photo)
Kansas State coach Jerome Tang paid Oscar Tshiebwe the ultimate compliment after his team ended Kentucky’s season in NCAA Tournament play.
“We knew that Oscar was going to get his, but we had to control everybody else,” Tang said after Kansas State beat Kentucky 75-69 even though Tshiebwe had 25 points and 18 rebounds — his 20th double-double of the season.
It was just another in a long list of dominant performances the last two seasons for Tshiebwe, the 2021-22 unanimous national player of the year and an all-American again this season.
If that turns out to be his final game in a Kentucky uniform for Tshiebwe, it has been a memorable ride for many, many reasons.
Look at some of what he’s done since transferring from West Virginia to Kentucky:
— His 48 double-doubles in 66 UK games are second-most in school history.
— Only SEC player in the last 25 years to have multiple seasons of 20 or more double-doubles.
— Kansas State was his second game this season with at least 25 points and 15 rebounds.
— In three NCAA Tournament games at Kentucky, Tshiebwe averaged 21 points and 19.7 rebounds per game.
— Has 1,117 points in two UK seasons and became the 48th player in UK history to reach 1,100 points.
— His 952 rebounds in 66 games at UK set the school record for rebounding average with 14.4 per game (previous record was 13.4 boards per game by Cliff Hagan in the early 1950s).
— His 952 rebounds moved him ahead of Kenny Walker (942) for sixth place on the UK career rebound list.
On and off the court, he became a fan favorite. He often stayed after games to sign autographs and take photos for fans. He never missed a chance to talk about his faith or visit a church/school to tell his story.
Despite his success, his humility always resonated with Kentucky fans. Even after Sunday’s game, he was thinking about UK fans.
“Thank you very much to Big Blue Nation. Stay strong. This program is built for greatness. We want them to stay strong. Sometimes God allows something to happen so you can learn from that,” Tshiebwe said. “I’m sorry to the BBN because I came here to do something great. Two years in a row it did not happen. I’m very happy to be part of Kentucky.”
Tshiebwe was visibly upset after the loss. He sat on a chair with his shirt off facing his locker while media members gathered behind him. Finally freshman teammate Ugonna Onyenso came and talked softly to the senior.
“I was feeling bad. My mind was just running,” Tshiebwe said. “He said, ‘You got people (media) waiting for you.’ He told me people were waiting and I needed to just turn around and answer questions. It was hard. I didn’t even know what to talk about.”
Tshiebwe said he felt the Wildcats “did our best” to win the game and he was coping okay with his feelings.
“We struggled a little bit on offense making shots. If we were making a couple of this shots it could have helped us,” Tshiebwe said. “This day was crazy. I thought we were going to win this game. I just thank God. Everything happens for a reason.”
He said it was a “dream” to play at Kentucky for two years.
“I am very appreciative. I thank everybody for the opportunity,” Tshiebwe said. “We went through a lot. Many good things, couple bad things happen. We had a lot of fun.”
Tshiebwe averaged 16.5 points and 13.7 rebounds per game, both team highs, this season while shooting 56 percent from the field and 72.9 percent from the foul line. He was second on the team with 52 steals and led the team with 32 blocks. He even had 50 assists.
He could return to Kentucky for another season if he wanted to delay starting a professional career but that seems very unlikely.
“I don’t know about that. Right now I don’t know,” he said after the Kansas State loss.
14 Responses
It’s ok big O! Other than putting on a cape and flying , you did all you could on the floor!
We’d all love to see you come back with this new class but whatever you decide…we Kentuckians are behind you 100%! Thanks for the memories!
You are a great person and basketball player am very proud of you and our team God bless you Oscar
yes he is Janie
Well said Roy
Thank you for being a bright light in the world Oscar and thank you for playing at UK you are so special God bless you
He has been something special
I was very surprised you even came back this year Oscar. Thank you for choosing our state to come to. Don’t drive yourself crazy with your decision to stay or enter the NBA or become a pastry chef that’s just it we don’t know but he does and he’ll let you know when the time is right..
I haven’t picked up to make it passed the second round. Since the 38-1 team. We just haven’t had no leadership on the floor. All these team’s has Jr and senior leaders on the floor. One and done is done. It take them a few years in the NBA to come a star. They can’t do it one year in college. We haven’t had that player since 38-1. I love my cats .but this isn’t working anymore.
Oscar is one of a kind .
Oscar was a breath of fresh air for college basketball. He deserved better than what he was given here at Kentucky. He came back this year to develop skills at the 4 spot where he could play in the NBA. Calipari refused to play him there, even though that would have allowed time for Onyenso to play and develop at the 5. Oscar could have become the best power forward in the game by this time, but Calipari would have none of it. We finish the season with nothing…no SEC titles, no national title, and no lottery picks. Wallace and Oscar should be second round picks, but that will be it. Calipari has failed on all counts and needs to the honorable thing and move on. I wish Oscar the best.
This performance from Bob Huggins of West Virginia who said he was lazy. Huggins is either not a good Coach or doesn’t recognize talent. He is anything but lazy and is an example of hard work. He will gone down as one of the best rebounders in NCAA history.
Strange that Huggins would say that, but he favored another big over Oscar.
Oscar one of the best rebounders in the history of College basketball.
Thank you for being such a bright light to us all Oscar God bless you