Oscar Tshiebwe practices calm before wreaking havoc on another opponent
Before his one-man demolition of an opponent, Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe retreats into quiet communion with God.
Worship, meditation, gospel music and prayer.
“Because I need God,” he said after another eye-popping performance Tuesday night.
The object is to free himself of negative thoughts.
“I just free my mind,” he said. “Let God control what I’m doing. Distraction is the worst enemy for me.”
After this calm comes the havoc that Tshiebwe wreaks on an opponent.
This time it was Mount St. Mary’s. His career-high 24 points to go with 16 rebounds propelled Kentucky to an 80-55 victory in Rupp Arena.
That made Tshiebwe the first UK player since PJ Washington in 2018-19 to post three straight double-doubles. He’s also the first since Julius Randle in 2013-14 to do it in his first three games as a Wildcat.
Tshiebwe, who came into the game leading the nation with an average of 20 rebounds a game, saw his average “slip” to 18.7.
Yet, there was hardly a sameness to Tshiebwe’s performance. For the first time, he faced up and made mid-range shots, which UK Coach John Calipari had said more than once was expected.
“We’ve been on him,” Calipari said in his postgame news conference. “I told you all that he can shoot the ball. He’s one of our best 15- to 17-foot shooters.”
Tshiebwe looked the part against Mount St. Mary’s. After posting up for UK’s first basket, he hit a couple of shots from the elbow. The second gave Kentucky the lead for good at 12-11 with 13:29 left in the first half.
On another occasion, Tshiebwe faked a shot from mid-range, then went by the defender for a layup.
Mount St. Mary’s Coach Dan Engelstad said boxing out Tshiebwe in hopes of limiting his rebounding was “a huge emphasis.”
After three games, Tshiebwe has more rebounds (56) than are credited to all of his individual teammates (55).
But Tshiebwe’s shooting — which had included an airball when wide open at the elbow against Robert Morris on Friday — was a surprise.
“I didn’t expect him to knock down every mid-range (attempt) that he shot,” Engelstad said.
Calipari and UK players said they were not surprised.
In a five-minute shooting drill, Tshiebwe has made 87 shots, Calipari said. The most in his 13 seasons as UK coach might be 89 by Kyle Wiltjer, he added.
For Calipari, the airball was the surprise. “It’s in his mind,” he said of the obstacle Tshiebwe had to overcome.
Keion Brooks noted a “huge difference” made by Tshiebwe making perimeter shots.
“He’s already a monster around the rim,” Brooks said. “When he’s stepping out, it’s extremely difficult for a team to guard him.”
Tshiebwe joked about any pressure he might feel to make perimeter shots.
In case of a miss, “I have a second attempt,” he said. “If I miss it, I can go grab it.”
Tshiebwe’s shooting also can benefit his teammates by creating driving lanes, Brooks added. It helps when the opponent guarding Tshiebwe must defend the outside shot.
“His man is a ‘five,’” Brooks said. “That’s usually the rim protector.”
NBA ambitions help inspire Tshiebwe to work on his jump shot.
“Because I know in the future you’re going to need that jump shot,” he said. “If you say I’m not going to take a jump shot, then you’ve got to be somebody like Dennis Rodman. … I know I have the potential to do that.”
Looking to the more immediate future, Calipari spoke of opponents boxing out Tshiebwe with more than one player. Tshiebwe’s 27 offensive rebounds represent more than half of UK’s total of 47.
Calipari also saluted Brooks, who had seven rebounds against Mount St. Mary’s.
“I loved it,” the UK coach said. “That’s how he’s got to play.”
Daimion Collins, who was active against Robert Morris, was less so against Mount St. Mary’s. The result was more playing time (24:27) for Brooks.
Tshiebwe saluted Brooks’ play, but he could not resist a friendly tease.
“I’m proud of him,” he said. “And I told him you’ve got to stop stealing my rebounds.”
Next game
Ohio at No. 13 Kentucky
What: The Kentucky Classic
When: 7 p.m. Friday
TV: SEC Network
