No. Im not a machine, he said. Unlike famous big men like Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille ONeal, Oscar also can hit the free throws, shooting at a 71.8 percent clip (51 out of 71 tries). So, were fine.. The 22-year-old who once had visions of being on the long list of one-and-done players at Kentucky is grateful for the path that led him to Lexington, even if it wasnt the one he imagined. He is the nations leading rebounder by a wide margin with 16.0 boards per game, and hes scoring a career-high 14.1 points per game as well. Oscar Tshiebwe Details Reasons for Leaving WVU Oscar Tshiebwe is an NCAA basketball player Credit: Reuters Who is Oscar Tshiebwe? Two UK Softball players in the running for NPOY - KSR. Maybe the floor spacing wouldn't be an absolute calamity. on Mar. LEXINGTON, Ky. Watch Oscar Tshiebwe play basketball for five minutes, really any five minutes, selected at random, and one thing becomes abundantly clear: He wants more. Odds and lines subject to change. Jamie Vaught: Gentle giant Oscar Tschiebwe is talk of college basketball, having big impact for Wildcats, Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism, Kentucky basketballs Damion Collins, CJ Fredrick to finish careers elsewhere, enter transfer portal, Ugonna Onyenso switches gears, says hes coming back to UK; Chris Livingston testing NBA waters, Kentuckys Oscar Tshiebwe declares for NBA Draft, but hasnt ruled out possible return to UK. Tshiebwe was on hand for the second semester of Kentuckys abysmal 2021-22 season after transferring from West Virginia but was not allowed to play per transfer rules. And I have morals. The good news for players like Collins and Ware is the best path to improving the deficiencies Duke exploited with Tshiebwe out of the game is battling against a physical post presence every day in practice. Pronunciation of Oscar Tshiebwe with 3 audio pronunciations 2 ratings 2 ratings 1 rating Record the pronunciation of this word in your own voice and play it to listen to how you have pronounced it. God has plans for every human being. It was good to finish with 30 points, but I have an ability down in the post to finish. Two of the nations best are in Lexington. He stands tall at six-foot-nine inches and has a seven-foot-five wingspan. SS PODCAST: Liberty basketball coach Brad Soucie on pain, grief, pushing forward. It's no indictment on the lovable human being, but what if things on the court go sour again? 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. Tshiebwe is a senior forward on the University of Kentucky's NCAA basketball team. He also can efficiently operate a scoring machine if his teammates need him. Check out the merchandise at the top of Oscars Kentucky Branded store. This guy, he understands what were going through. Sophomore forward Lance Ware totaled two points and two rebounds in nine minutes against Duke. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Or, more accurately, the Academy has rebranded the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar to Best International Film, and in the process it appears to have shot . Those fans, weve got to do whatever weve got to do for them because without them we cant do anything, he explained in a virtual postgame press conference after the Vandy contest last week. Tell me Oscar Tshiebwe is coming back without Oscar Tshiebwe saying he is coming back. Before Oscar played basketball, he was a goalie for the academy team of TP Mazembe, one of the top professional soccer teams in Africa. Season School PTS; 2019-20: West Virginia: 11.2: 2020-21: West Virginia: 8.5: 2021-22: Kentucky: 17.4: Career: Overall: 13.6: Who got National Player of the Year? Oscar Tshiebwe Parents, Net Worth, Girlfriend, and more See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Entering the 2023 NCAA Tournament, his NIL valuation according to On3 was $915,000. One is the word for "slow down." Says it'll take Cal. Calipari is high on Onyenso becoming a big a second-year success. Can Calipari or any of the potential stars stomach a third season of "when in doubt, dump it down to Oscar," when DJ Wagner or Justin Edwards may be ready to erupt for 30 points of their own at any moment? Kentucky basketball: How the nation's top rebounding team turns boards into points. Legendary rapper Lil Wayne is in Lexington for a concert Sunday night at Rupp Arena. A new apparel line could mean Kentuckys big man is coming back, or not. "Our style of music is very African and he liked that. If you watch me these past two years I've really struggled with that, Tshiebwe said. So what better way to pass the time leading up to the show than with John Calipari inside the Kentucky basketball facilities? That's Kentuckyoffensive linemanDavid Wohlabaugh Jr.has entered thetransfer portal, the sophomore announced Sunday afternoon. But that one has at least. Tshiebwe had previously played two seasons at West Virginia, where he was an . Just 32 swats in year two. Not to mention, what about Collins and Ware? Oscar, who speaks six languages, spoke Swahili with the students who haven't reached full proficiency in English yet. It's an ever-changing league that pays a high price for shooting, something Tshiebwe doesn't lack, but doesn't excel at, either. For every individual who chooses to follow Christ wherever he may lead, the journey itself can become part of the testimony the world witnesses of the faith that has been discovered. All rights reserved. Oscar Tshiebwe Biography, Age, Height, Girlfriend, Net Worth - Wealthy Spy First, he averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds-per-game, then 16.5 points and 13.7 boards in year two. Tshiebwe predicted this summer he might have helped turn a 9-16 team into a Final Four squad if he could have played. The joy on their faces when Oscar walked in didnt need any interpretation. Onyenso's shear size and defensive ability grabs plenty of attention. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Former Mountaineer Oscar Tshiebwe shoots a foul shot in this photo from last season. Oscar Tshiebwe shares continued progress in recovery from knee surgery Kentucky basketball: If this is goodbye, Oscar Tshiebwe leaves as a Baylor mens basketball, coach Scott Drew set out to defend title with culture of J.O.Y. Oscar has made it known how much he loves being at UK, so you can never say never at a return, no matter how slim the chance might be. When you go for it, youre going to get it. They look at me down there and I showed them I can do things. I am always fighting until the time is up. He cashed in big time in the Bahamas back in August 2022, and eventually had his face spread across billboards, representing Morgan and Morgan, as well as Donatos. Im not the tallest guy, but I have a big heart, he admitted. Hes consistent. After the Prayer Breakfast, UK said that Tshiebwe did not want to speak to the media. I used to go push people behind, but right now we work with the coach, I got to go side to side. Tshiebwe also famously goes by the nickname Big O. During his first Zoom with the Kentucky Basketball media, Big O settled it once and for all (Shee-bway) and shared some of the worst attempts hes heard. Maybe he would nip the ball-screen defense woes in the bud. For stretches this season, he was fairly consistent from letting it go around the free-throw line. His 12 offensive rebounds were three more than any UK player during Calipari's tenure. Hard to argue with what hes done in Sacramento. You and I both saw how reliant UK was on the midrange jumper this year. One thing to separate him from every other big guy in the country was his motor on the offensive boards. Who is Oscar Tshiebwe and how old is he? | The US Sun Tua considered retirement last season - ESPN, Mike Brown named NBA Coach of the Year - Bleacher Report. Prior to Kentucky, Tshiebwe played at West Virginia, where he averaged 8.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during his ten appearances. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tshiebwe is also strong in his faith. Oscar Tshiebwe is a Congolese collegiate basketball player for the Southeastern Conferences Kentucky Wildcats (SEC), Previously, Oscar was a member of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Sahvir and Keion at Washington would be an interesting combo. Oscar made a dream debut against Duke University where he singlehandedly kept the hopes of their team alive by scoring 17 points and 19 rebounds which resulted . On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). A seamless fit with a brand new group doesn't feel all that likely. Oscar Tshiebwe hopes John Calipari will keep him forever so he can Thanks to a stat correction announced Thursday, Tshiebwe became Kentucky's first player to record 20 rebounds in a game since Jared Prickett in 1994. Thats what I do: Fight. Tshiebwe immediately established himself as an indispensable member of the Wildcats, who have won six straight games since losing to Duke in their season-opener. He just has always done that. Kentucky trailed by five at the time of Tshiebwes third foul, but Duke quickly grew that lead to 11 before John Calipari returned the West Virginia transfer to the court. Name, image and likeness deals and the transfer portal have changed NCAA sports recently. Tara Spencer, Beaumonts EL instructional coach, first got the idea to invite Oscar to her class while attending a Kentucky game with her husband earlier this season. It might seem that it is helping us to win again. With his fun, humble personality, and extreme work ethic, it isn't hard to see why. 22 Kentucky (28-18-1; 8-13 SEC) faced off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs for their final game of the series on Sunday afternoon. There's clear potential for Tshiebwe's shot, though. It's not to doubt that he wouldn't still be able to put up absurd rebounding numbers, but there would be a difference. We are their examples for what we do because they want to do that one day too. Jamie Vaught: 'Gentle giant' Oscar Tschiebwe is talk of college Former WVU player Tshiebwe comments clarified by The Athletic Tshiebwe's blue-collar approach to rebounding quickly endeared him to Kentucky fans. I literally think the dude might run through a brick wall if you told him to or if thats what he had to do, super senior guard Davion Mintz said of Tshiebwe. Hes going to be the same person every day. Tshiebwe had some choice words when discussing the fight or lack thereof of his team. LEXINGTON - John Calipari relied heavily on the transfer portal to build his 2021-22 Kentucky basketball roster. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). The former Calipari stars who won the award (Associated Press or Coaches) include John Wall (2010), Anthony Davis (2012), Tyler Ulis (2016), Malik Monk (2017) and Immanuel Quickley (2020). Wohlabaugh began the 2022 season as Kentuckys left tackle before being benched. The 6-foot-9 Congo-native speaks six languages, . If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. There are areas for improvement for Tshiebwe Calipari also noted he has a tendency to try and lay-in lob passes rather than dunk them because he was rarely thrown lobs at West Virginia but the biggest concern for Kentucky is building depth behind him. Oscars father, Mbuyi Tshiebwe, was head pastor at a New Apostolic church in the commune of Kanya. Tionna Herron is lucky she did. It was amazing to see my teammates celebrate and pour water on me like that. Tshiebwe honed his skills by sprinting up and down hills and up a mountain near his house. 8: 'I give glory to God', SS PODCAST: George Foreman on finding purpose in Christ, his film 'Big George Foreman', Daily Devotional: Friday, April 28 - Just Do It, Bryce Young goes No. UPDATE. One is the word for "slow down." Tshiebwe led his team to a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 1A championship as a junior, averaging 21.1 points per game. Several are refugees who received the golden ticket to come to America in search of a better life. On August 24, 2022, Kentucky women's basketball freshman Herron underwent open-heart surgery to mend a structural abnormality. The team, theyre helping me. Thats what helped me and making free throws. Of course, these things can change in an instant, but it definitely looks like, for now . While Duke won in large part due to its size advantage, most of that damage was done with Tshiebwe was out of the game. Its one thing to be capable of doing the things Oscar does on the basketball court; but when you combine that talent with his ability to lead and inspire others, youve got a very special person indeed. Oscar Tshiebwe sat facing his locker, looking straight forward, refusing to turn and talk to the media for nearly five minutes after Kentucky's Round of 32 loss to Kansas State in Greensboro . Well, we certainly can agree that Oscar is not a mean machine. I can do anything for those kids, because theyre coming to the game.". I give thanks to God for about every single day in my life for everything that God has blessed me with. Western Kentucky coach Rick Stansbury is impressed with Tshiebwes rebounding prowess. I said, Maybe I need to give my heart to God,' Tshiebwe recently told the Christian Broadcasting Network. Oscar Tshiebwe Injury Update: Kentucky Basketball star still Right now, probably call me a beast. Gambling Problem? Prior to his collegiate success, Tshiebwe was a McDonalds All-American and ranked as a five-star recruit and a top-25 senior who helped lead Kennedy Catholic High School to a 27-3 record. And as members of the Big Blue Nation, were on the lookout for any bits of information or intel to suggest which way a player is leaning. I love spending time with little kids. As Oscar is an upstanding citizen, we feel with the strongest of convictions that total and non encumbered access to earn these funds should be his legal right. 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. What if he comes back and doesn't mesh with a likely new-look team, causing a headache for everyone involved? He feels that way, too. How did you know? She said, Oh my goodness! Elite recruit Ron Holland decommits from Texas. All rights reserved. Here are three overarching pros and cons for both Tshiebwe and Kentucky if he were to return for one more run as a Wildcat: Let's get the obvious one out of the way. He coached me and he did everything for me, tried to help me, but I have no comment I can say about that.. Vince Marrow gets engaged and reveals UK set to add 2 high-profile transfers, Former NCAA Head of Officials was not a fan of the refs for UK - Florida, DJ Wagner and Justin Edwards honored at Iverson Classic, DeAndre Square to Rams as UDFA; Jacquez Jones gets camp invite with Falcons. When he decided to leave the West Virginia program, Tshiebwe asked God to guide him as he determined what his next step would be. Wednesday afternoon, former West Virginia big man Oscar Tshiebwe met with the media for the first time since transferring over to Kentucky. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism. Tshiebwe began playing basketball in May of 2014. "When you trust in God, God is not . Oscars renames its Best Foreign Language Film category - but what does The return of Tshiebwe isn't expected, but it's not out of the question. Spencer said Oscar didnt go into details about his fathers passing with the group but did share how hes still guided by his fathers lessons and the Lord. If he wins the conference Player of the Year award, Tshiebwe would become the sixth Kentucky player to get the SEC honors under coach John Calipari. He is a Democratic Republic of the Congo native and has five siblings, according to his player bio.. As reported by 247Sports, the star basketball player received AP's Second Team All-American honors on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. "I hope he keeps me forever so I can teach him.". Thats when I stop fighting. Finally, we have an answer to the question that's been on the minds of Kentucky fans since January (or even before, if you follow recruiting closely): how do you pronounce Oscar Tshiebwe's last name? As you can tell, the Big Blue Nation loves Tshiebwe and he has been spending some time with the fans, signing autographs or posing for pictures, after UK games recently. "So if they sacrifice to follow us wherever we go, we have to do something for them too. This is what hes always been about. Oscar Tshiebwe - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays The Humble Celebrity: Oscar Tshiebwe. When he came to America in 2015 with the help of Congo native and NBA player Bismack Biyombo, Oscar didnt speak any English and had to rely on the help of a French-speaking taxi driver at the New York airport to get to his final destination of Charlotte, North Carolina. Tshiebwe arrived in the United States in November 2015, just before the start of his freshman year of high school, and enrolled at Mountain Mission School in Grundy, Virginia. Thats why hes the best in the country at it. Oscar Tshiebwe and the Kentucky Wildcats are ready for their first game in the NCAA Tournament March Madness on March 17.