By Ethan DeWitt. He can hold off a player like North Carolina center Armando Bacot, 6-10 and 240 pounds, with just a forearm. The 6-foot-9, 260-pound forward from the Congo led the nation in rebounding at 15.1 per game while averaging 17.4 points. The coach: Go get it! Go get it? Its safe to sayCalipari was right. Oscar's father, Mbuyi Tshiebwe, was head pastor at a New Apostolic church in the commune of Kanya. Analysts make case for Oscar Tshiebwe and Chris Livingston to return to Kentucky, CBS Sports Gary Parrish explained this thinking of why it may be beneficial for Tshiebwe to return to Kentucky, Kentucky basketball recruiting in the 2023 class, UNC Basketball: Hubert Davis is making a strong push for 2024 five-star Jarin Stevenson, Syracuse mens basketball: five new offers extended after first AAU weekend. Oscar Tshiebwe helping new Wildcat find his way. Kentucky - AOL So whenever you watch him with the naked eye, you think, Thats a basketball player. You dont necessarily think, Thats Oscar the big brute. , Inside the weight room with @B_Welsh11 on how @Oscartshiebwe34 is becoming a better athlete. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. And Oscar equals extra possessions. Stats: 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.1 blocks, .6 steals, 31.6% 3PT, 69.5% FG, 79.5% FT, Case for: great rim-protector, great at staying vertical and not fouling, projectable jumpshot, Creighton was bad on both ends of the floor when he was out/limited and great with him, Case against: limited to just a drop coverage big as hes not switchable, Stats: 16 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 3 blocks, 13.3% 3PT, 50% FG, 72.9% FT, Case for: good offensive hub in college, underrated passer, much better lateral mobility than he gets credit for, jumpshot looks solid in terms of form despite not making many threes, Case against: pretty old, didnt shoot it as well as I would have expected, Stats: 19.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2 assists, .7 blocks, 1.1 steals, 31.2% 3PT, 57% FG, 76.4% FT, Case for: runs the floor hard on offense, good scoring around the rim, maybe has some shooting potential, extremely productive college player, Case against: undersized center, doesnt project as much of a floor-spacer. And I think thats something Cal will probably try to be very cautious of with Oscar, because if a guy comes back, you want to make sure you do everything you can to take care of him and make it a good year for him. Why Kentucky Basketball Star Oscar Tshiebwe Plays to Honor - Movieguide You saw the emotional response. As Tshiebwe made the jump from West Virginia to Kentucky, Johnson remained unable to play. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. 2 recruit Holland decommits from Texas, Butler transfer Lukosius commits to Cincinnati, New Big Ten boss Petitti ready to lead 'new era', Penn's Dingle, top Ivy League player, to transfer, Utah Valley's Bandaogo entering transfer portal, Memphis' Hardaway hires Stansbury as assistant, Top guard transfer Abmas commits to Longhorns, Men's college basketball rosters: Comings and goings for 2023-24, Everything you need to know about "The Bag Game," a podcast on college hoops' bribery scandal. Hell jump to get it and youre just (stuck). Still, it's been expected that even if he wasn't going to be drafted . Teammates first rejoiced, then cracked a joke: Lets go beat Saint Peters. Oscar Tshiebwe is a Congolese collegiate basketball player for the Southeastern Conference's Kentucky Wildcats (SEC), Previously, Oscar was a member of the West Virginia Mountaineers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The 6-foot-9, 260-pound hulk with 7 percent body fat wants to look like a natural athlete, not just a robotic rebounding machine. Has a quick second and third jump, which allows him to tip the ball to himself Is a capable shooter out to about 17-18 feet Has shown noticeable improvement in his footwork and . That really helped me, Tshiebwe says. In this same article, CBS Sports David Cobb went into the benefits of former five-star recruit Chris Livington staying in the Bluegrass state with the mindset basically the same. I said, Are you sure, son? No more waiting.. I feel really good.". . Kentucky runs a lot of middle ball screens, so he can either roll all the way to rim or short roll to the top of the key area, where hes capable of shooting the 17-footer. Fox also said he doesn't expect to live past 80 years old, adding that it's "getting harder." Top editors give you the stories you want delivered . Along with his double-double, he also finished with four blocks and finished 4-for-4 from the free throw line. I can see the court really good when Ive got the ball. Taking away team rebounds, that number jumped to 41.2%. Im coming back with a different mindset.. When he said something, everybody stood at attention, Williams says. Oscar Tshiebwe's numbers have been down across the board in his sophomore season, but he came up with 12 points and 15 rebounds in Tuesday's win over Northeastern. I dont even have a place in my room to put them. He's now played four college seasons and has established himself as one of the most. The aforementioned ceremonial Senior Night in Gainesville on March 5, 2022, featured a game . Theres another position in another sport altogether where such a skill set is invaluable. Shows a good spin, flashes some moves and finesse touch in the paint occasionally but doesnt have much of an offensive game in the low post. He averaged just 6.3 points per game on 30.5% 3-point shooting during his freshman campaign didnt show much shot-creation acumen, Cobb wrote. He wants to be able to catch the ball at the top of the key, pump fake and attack the rim. Oscar Tshiebwe is an NCAA basketball player Credit: Reuters Who is Oscar Tshiebwe? Can hedge on the perimeter fairly well. Oscar Tshiebwe reveals hidden jumper against Mount St. Mary's 247Sports 247Sports Home FB Rec FB Recruiting Home News Feed Team Rankings Commitments Decommitments Scheduled Commits Player. Thats allowed Kentucky to get out and run. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). Is more comfortable dribbling than his skill level warrants, often tries to push after getting a steal and can get himself in tough situations or turn the ball back over His scoring comes almost exclusively from right around the rim or free throw line jumpers Lacks versatility and is more of a niche player Can struggle playing drop coverage, giving up lobs to longer, more athletic players , Outlook: Tshiebwe is a classic example of an elite college player whose game doesnt appear to translate to todays NBA If this was the 80s or early 90s, hes a potential lottery pick But in todays game, he is more of a Glen Big Baby Davis type (although a much better rebounder than Davis) in that he is big and strong, but plays beneath the rim and lacks the athleticism to appeal to most teams His motor, outstanding defense, and elite rebounding will give him a chance to latch on with a team, but he appears destined to be a role player at the next level. Tshiebwe has a chance to become the only player besides Faried in the KenPom era to lead the nation in both offensive and defensive rebound percentage. Oscar Tshiebwe: The Best Player in College Basketball You see me [on the court] celebrating, running all over the place for my teammates doing good. "He's one of the best rebounders ever," Williams said. With Tshiebwe on the floor, Kentucky averages 124.6 points per 100 possessions and allows just 86.4. The name on my trophies is only my name, he says. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday at Walton Arena, Tshiebwe is averaging 16.4 points and a national-leading 15.3 rebounds. A standing vertical jump of 39.5" (1 m) and bench press 225 lbs (102 kg) for 24 reps. 24 reps of 225lbs (102 kg) put in an 1 rep max calculator would give them a 1 rep max of 405 lbs (183.7 kg). If he had more of a jumpshot (something hes begun to develop over the last year or so) he could enhance his attractiveness as an NBA big, but thats probably a pretty big ask for him at this stage of his development. That confidence isnt just an internal mindsethe feels like the whole program is behind him and willing to help him succeed in every facet of his game. You see my offense getting better, Tshiebwe said. Half the offensive rebounds you get wind up in fouls or 3-pointers, and were not allowing other teams to do that. 04-22-2023, 08:15 PM . I don't care about points. Now, Tshiebwe will have to try and halt those amazing things on the court, as he and Kentucky will square off against Johnson and Kansas State in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday afternoon in Greensboro. If we can be plus-10 to plus-15 in possessions, we give ourselves a better chance to win, Coleman continues. Williams had only two real concerns: staying healthy enough to finish the job and keeping his team focused on the work it takes to win a championship rather than the desired result. I dont want anybody to score. "Look at him now, he's doing amazing things.". Following Tuesday's game, Tshiebwe said his team will continue to grow now that it's healthy. Averaged 9.8 points per game while shooting a fourth best 60% FG% at adidas Nations in 2017 Good tools and rotates well defensively. Oscar Tshiebwe and the Kentucky Wildcats are ready for their first game in the NCAA Tournament March Madness on March 17. Kentucky remains an elite rebounding team without Tshiebwe, which is a testament to the mentality hes created. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Sports Illustrated also offers insight, information and up to the minute details for gamblers. What Does the Reported Zach Edey NIL Number Mean for Purdue Athletics. Like Kentucky last season, North Carolina had the best player in the country and a team it thought could win the whole thing in 2008. Kentucky is one of five teams that rank in the top 50 in block rate and defensive rebounding percentage. For part two, here are the center prospects that are likely to fall to the second round or could be had on a two-way contract. The guy whose nickname at UNC was Psycho T can relate. "I told them in the locker room, 'We're not ready for teams that are ready to finish the end of games.' Oscar Tshiebwe dominates season debut, but Kentucky upset in 2OT loss Gambling Problem? 04-21-2023, 12:44 PM #7: rickjames. Seconds. Every time somebody shoots the ball, my mind is like Im the goalie. NBA Draft Scouting Report: Oscar Tshiebwe - NBA Draft Digest - Latest Theres a little more to it than that. But Tuesday's game also allowed Michigan State to shine four days after it suffered a 64-63 loss to No. Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points and a nation-leading 15.1 rebounds per game last season on the way to being named the Associated Press Player of the Year and sweeping the other five national awards as college basketball's best player. That ties Blake Griffin and Tim Duncan for most 20-rebound games in a career by a major-conference player since 1997. My reason to transfer in the middle of the season was I didnt want to sit out a year (under the old rules). Can Oscar Tshiebwe repeat as player of the year? He's got eyes on a While the Mountaineers seemed to have too much of a good thing, which meant a diminishing role for Tshiebwe in the frontcourt timeshare with Derek Culver, UK had virtually zero post presence. Kentucky basketball roster tracker: Latest as John Calipari's 2023-24 But that was a tough loss for us to swallow, and I felt like with that kind of motivation and team chemistry everybody was back and we all really liked each other whats one more year? Roy Williams and Tyler Hansbrough know something about that. 6-9, 260 Power Forward/Center. He was crushed, Wildcats assistant coach Orlando Antigua says. Johnson was first diagnosed with acute myocarditis (heart inflammation), but later said that it was a condition known as "Athlete's Heart," which isan increase in cardiac mass due to systematic training that can lead to sudden death. Thats what I want, for everybody to be remembered.. Sometimes I get mad the way were shooting, because I need them to miss so I can grab some rebounds, but they keep making everything. Prayer and belief comes at the forefront of dissecting the larger-than-life figure that took Lexington by storm, so his while his words may seem overly amplified, they come from nowhere but the heart: "I told him 'stay strong, God is gonna bring you back better than before.'". He is one of our best 15-17 foot shooters.. You can start from today and make a big impact. When I saw Kentucky struggling, I just couldnt wait. Schedule Roster News (opens in a new . Brooks said he just has to believe that it can go in. Check out Tshiebwe's top plays ahead of UK vs. UF. Tshiebwe is getting a higher frequency of post-ups this season and been more efficient. Boardroom breaks down his NIL earnings and deals. I want to leave something important here.. Kentucky will play Kansas State in the Round of 32. "We've just been connected since then," Johnson said. I said, All right, I like those two things. UK fought off Providence in the first round, partially thanks to 25 rebounds from Tshiebwe, a single-game postseason program record. Oscar Tshiebwe announced Wednesday that he will not enter this year's NBA Draft. (AP photo) Men's Basketball, WVU Sports Oscar Tshiebwe clarifies statement that Bob Huggins threatened a . "He's incredibly explosive as an offensive rebounder," Musselman said. Dillon Brooks is also the player whom national fans believe is the biggest individual villian. Just playing against the National Player of the Year is a great feeling, it's a big stage, it's gonna bring back old memories.". He hammered that notion into Tshiebwes head when the ball goes up, get to the other side with punishment runs as motivation not to forget. What should the Wizards do with Kristaps Porzingis? We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. There was a guy once who said he thought every shot was just a pass to him, and thats the way I think Oscar looks at it.. Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars in March 2022. They won their first 13 games, most of them effortlessly, beating Kentucky by 19, Oregon by 29, Notre Dame by 15, and Michigan State by 35. LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky senior forward Oscar Tshiebwe, last season's consensus national player of the year, was sidelined for the fourth-ranked Wildcats' season-opening 95-63 win against Howard on Monday. This what that looks like. He looks like a NBA teams third center right now if he were to declare for the draft. "With [Tshiebwe] just coming back, it's not easy to bring a guy like him in and everything goes smooth.". Jordan Dingle a 6-3 guard from Penn who averaged 23 . Im so happy being here. Antonio Reeves (22 points) and CJ Fredrick (20) were a strong backcourt tandem, and Kentucky showed depth in outscoring Howard's bench 32-15. The one difference between Tshiebwe and most centers Calipari has had is that he doesnt block as many shots, but Kentucky is still solid in that area 42nd in block rate and great shot-blocking teams usually are susceptible to allowing offensive rebounds. LEXINGTON, Ky. The way Oscar Tshiebwe crumpled, it looked like hed just suffered an actual gut punch. That decision took a few weeks, during which time Saint Peters continued its dream run all the way to the Elite Eight and Tshiebwe zig-zagged the country collecting his truckload of awards. Tshiebwe sat out the rest of the 2020-21 season after transferring, but he's been worth the wait for Kentucky. While not a very top-heavy center class, there is decent depth of players with third big potential. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Lets do this.. His defensive rebounding allows teams just to get one shot at it, assistant Orlando Antigua says. Scrawled on the mirror in his room: No. Oscar Tshiebwe (born 27 November 1999) is a Congolese college basketball player for the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It was kind of like, hey, if theyre in, Im in. He settled for a tough jump shot that clanked off the rim toward the end of regulation. He possesses substantial potential defensively . Are you coming back? Not just Kentucky fans. He was an AP preseason All-America selection this season. 11/27/99 (23.4 yrs) Hometown. The other was one-and-done star Anthony Davis, who led Kentucky to its eighth NCAA title a decade ago before becoming the No. At the Final Four. You saw the tears. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). The fourth-ranked Wildcats are hoping Tshiebwe can do the same for them. Thats the only thing Tyler cared about not All-ACC or All-America or the scoring record or rebounding record just winning the darn thing. They measured 9 1/4 inches long and 10 3/4 inches wide at UKs pro day, which would make them among the largest mitts at any NBA Combine over the last several years. Hes averaging 16.3 points, 15.2 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, 1.6 steals and shooting 61.5 percent from the field for 12th-ranked Kentucky, which will play at No. Were encouraging him to, so when he gets that going, were gonna see how even more unstoppable he is.. Kentucky will now face South Carolina State on Thursday before traveling to Spokane, Washington, to face No. If a national title feels like an attainable goal at the beginning of March Madness, whenever and however you lose in the tournament brings heartbreak. Kentucky basketball is going to benefit. You cannot jump. Has nothing to do with schemes. The numbers illustrated that they were productive apart, but they basically got in each others way when together. He averaged 3.0 stocks per 40 minutes, the product of a 1.6% BLK rate and 3.7% STL rate. His biggest thing is continuing to become a more fluid athlete, a better basketball player. The returning guys are doing very good, too. Cal loves a player-led team, and its hard to beat a team led by a player like Oscar, Antigua says. UK now has a healthy CJ Fredrick, who made 46.6 percent of his 3s in two seasons at Iowa. He is averaging 16.9 points, 15.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Some of my teammates were not ready. "Oscar isn't Oscar yet," Tom Izzo said after the game. Sunday won't be the first time that Johnson and Tshiebwe will have shared a court in college, though. It was the strangest sensation, undulating between the spoils of an all-time great individual season and the misery of a monumental team failure. Hansbrough missed four games early in the season with shin and ankle injuries that scared me to death, Williams says. 1 recruit in the 2023 class per ESPN, picked Kentucky over Louisville, its chief rival. Are you coming back? Livingston entered Kentucky as a five-star prospect in the Class of 2022 and showed plenty of promise on the defensive end while starting in 26 of 34 games for the Wildcats. But North Carolina won the 2009 national championship, and Hansbrough had a huge hand in it: 24 and 10 against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16, 18 and 11 against Villanova in the Final Four, 18 and 7 against Michigan State in the title game. Oscar Tshiebwe AP Player of the Year Press Conference Quotes Tuesdays overtime win against Mississippi State was a perfect example of Tshiebwes impact. That should be me right there. Has been up and down as a free throw shooter. Something is different about Kentucky Center Oscar Tshiebwe. A native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this 6'9 forward transferred midway through his second season at West Virginia and sat out the rest of last season. UK. Going up against Tshiebwe will serve as a reminder of how far Johnson has come since his career and life almost ended over two years ago.