Vicky Graff Photo
Okay, we still do not know if two-time All-American Oscar Tshiebwe will be at Kentucky next year or not.
He’s put his name in the NBA Draft but also will maintain his collegiate eligibility in case he decides to withdraw his name and stay in college.
Kentucky Sports Radio basketball writer Jack Pilgrim told us on The Leach Report Sunday Morning Sports on WLAP (630 AM) that his information indicated Tshiebwe made over $3 million last season thanks to NIL.
Tshiebwe was the unanimous national player of the year for what he did during the 2021-22 season and his return to Kentucky was seen as a path back to the Final Four for coach John Calipari. Instead, UK struggled early in the season, was never in the hunt for the SEC championship and lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Despite having preseason knee surgery, Tshiebwe averaged 16.5 points and once again led the nation with 13.7 rebounds per game last season. He had 20 double-doubles and became the first UK player to repeat as an all-American since Tayshaun Prince in 2001 and 2002.
Yet there was not a huge outpouring of love for Tshiebwe’s decision to at least leave open the door to play another year at UK. He’s not projected as a first-round NBA draft pick and even if his NIL money decreases next year he probably would still make a lot more than he might by starting his professional career.
The naysayers note that Kentucky is only 1-2 in NCAA Tournament games the last two seasons with Tshiebwe. But in those three games he averaged 21 points and 19.6 rebounds — numbers any player would love to have.
The naysayers believe Tshiebwe clogs the middle and makes it hard for UK to spread the floor like other teams have done. They worry UK’s No. 1 recruiting class has players that might not thrive with Tshiebwe on the team stationed near the basket where he dominates the offensive glass.
Tshiebwe also has skeptics because Kentucky’s defense at the rim was not in the top 200 nationally and ranked well behind its defense on 3-point and midrange shots.
North Carolina center Armando Bacot returned to college for the 2022-23 season like Tshiebwe did after both were all-Americans a year earlier. North Carolina did not even make the 2023 NCAA. Bacot’s draft status and marketability are similar to what is projected for Tshiebwe and yet Bacot seems set to return to North Carolina again already.
Maybe it meant something when UK 7-foot freshman Ugonna Onyenso put his name into the transfer portal. Maybe he worried about his playing time with incoming freshman 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw and Tshiebwe also on next year’s roster.
Tshiebwe has had a sensational two seasons at Kentucky. He ranks in the top 10 in rebounds (952), top 25 in blocks (87), top 30 in steals (112), and top 50 in points (1,117). His 48 double-doubles are tied with Cotton Nash for the second-most ever at UK behind only Dan Issel’s 64.
He has averaged 16.9 points and 14.4 rebounds in 66 career games at UK since transferring from West Virginia. He is UK’s first consensus two-time All-American since Kenny Walker in 1985 and 1986. His 1,117 points are the second most for any two-year span in school history behind only Bill Spivey (1,213) and ranks second in program history behind only Kyle Macy (1,411) for points by a transfer.
Think about this. Tshiebwe has eight 20-rebound games in two season. In the last 22 seasons, all other UK players have combined for seven 20-rebound games. Tshiebwe had 28 rebounds against Western, the most by a UK player since 1976. His 25 rebounds against Providence lasts month were the most by a UK player in a NCAA game since 1977.
Want more? He was the first Division I player to average 15 points and 15 rebounds in a season in 42 years when he did during the 2021-22 season. He was just the fourth player since 1975 to have 500 points and 500 rebounds in the same season.
So count me as one who believes if Tshiebwe wants to come back to Kentucky, then Calipari and UK fans should welcome him back and the UK coach has to find a way to make an offense and defense work because not wanting a generational player on the roster just does not make sense to me.
12 Responses
I would love to watch Oscar play another year for Kentucky, but Calipari will make it another wasted year. If Oscar doesn’t get drafted, he should go to another school that will let him play the 4 spot and develop his shooting.
I would love to have him back if Cal will run an offense that fits his players. Cal does not seem to change the offense to fit the players. Sometimes it looks like a square peg in a round hole. Oscar cannot guard quick players and struggles against height. The word Zone comes to mind but Cal will lose every game before a zone gets credit for winning games at UK.
Oscar has to become a legit 4 to make it in the Pros for any length of time. Don’t know if he is willing to put in the time for that nor if Cal is willing.
With Oscar as a fixture full-time at the 5, I don’t see much difference for next year over this year, unless UK has at least 2 really good shooters that can spread the floor and are consistent in their shooting.
Very well said Larry.
Glad we think alike Karen
Can’t improve the previous posts
Calipari is a fraud and the UK program will continue to slide down until he is gone
Larry I’m in your camp. 💯
Larry, I totally agree with you and do not understand the thinking of the naysayers. I LOVE Oscar who is now one of my all-time favorite players.
We have too many couch coaches who will always find something to complain about.
Truer word have rarely been spoken!
Oscar just needs a coach not a used car salesman
If you can’t find a way to win with an Oscar Tshiebwe on your team, you are not a coach worthy of D1 job, much less at UK, for 9 mil, in the Hall of Fame.
That said, with the shooters coming in and Reeves back along w Ugo and Bradshaw beside him, this team has great potential in spite of Cal’s system.
Oscar averaged similar stats per 40 minutes at WVU as he does at UK, but he was playing beside a true 6’10 guy (cred to some Twitter OP)- that is very interesting beside either Ugo or Bradshaw’s shot blocking abilities, especially if Bradshaw’s outside shot translates.
Surround by 3 shooters? Might work by end of season.
PS. Also glad Ugo may come back- maybe we won’t have to lament his loss like we did Hopkins last year cause he too is gonna dominate somewhere
I’m with you also Larry!
I think the negatively is more about if Cal can use Oscar the right way with the incoming freshman! Not necessarily against Oscar.