If Oscar Tshiebwe misses time this season, who fills the ’5’ spot for Kentucky basketball?
With the season opener now a little more than two weeks away, there’s a generally optimistic tone around the Kentucky basketball program regarding the status of Oscar Tshiebwe.
The reigning national player of the year had a “minor” — according to John Calipari’s description — procedure on his knee last week after missing a couple of the team’s preseason practices. Tshiebwe put a scare into some UK fans by showing up at Big Blue Madness the next day on crutches, but that was a natural part of the healing process.
At the Southeastern Conference’s media day Wednesday, Calipari implied that his star player was already ahead of schedule on his return to the court. He didn’t put a timetable on that return, but he also didn’t even mention the possibility of Tshiebwe being limited when the regular season begins Nov. 7, saying only that the 6-foot-9 post player would be sidelined from this weekend’s trip to Pikeville for the team’s Blue-White Game.
The initial indication out of UK was that Tshiebwe would not be forced to miss any regular-season time due to the injury. But it’s also logical that he won’t be pressed into action in November unless he’s 100 percent healthy, especially for a UK team that hopes to still be playing — and relying on Tshiebwe — in late March and early April.
“You know me well enough,” Calipari said Wednesday. “I’ll keep him out longer than he probably should.”
So, what if Tshiebwe does miss the first part of the regular season, either out of precaution or necessity?
It seems this Kentucky team will be much better equipped to handle his absence than last season’s squad would have been.
During the 2021-22 campaign, Lance Ware was in his second year of college — after getting a relatively late start to his basketball career — while freshman Daimion Collins was clearly not ready to make a sizable impact, and Jacob Toppin was still trying to figure out his own game.
Going into the 2022-23 season, Collins, Toppin and Ware are all a year older and another season further into their development. And all three players could realistically play considerable minutes at the “5” spot, if necessary.
A few weeks ago, UK associate coach Orlando Antigua spoke on this topic and agreed that the Wildcats appeared to have much more of a safety net in the paint this time around.
“Yeah, I think so,” he told the Herald-Leader. “Obviously, with a year of experience, Daimion has been phenomenal. And Lance, as well, has gotten a lot better. What you would expect in a program that’s all about development. For guys that spend time there, to keep getting better and better. And everybody runs their own race. Everybody has their own timing.”
Antigua added that Ware and Toppin were usually the first two Cats in the practice gym each morning. Ware has been working on being a more versatile player. Toppin has been playing a more physical brand of basketball. And Collins has developed more confidence around his game as he’s become more comfortable at the college level.
Ugonna Onyenso — a 7-footer and a late addition to UK’s 2022-23 team — was also mentioned by Antigua as a possible contributor in the post.
The UK assistant said all of this before Tshiebwe was sidelined with the knee issue, and the depth that the Cats seemingly have so much more of at his position will be a benefit even if the nation’s top player is fully ready to go by Nov. 7.
There will be foul trouble. There will be fatigue and maybe even nagging injuries. And for a player who played 31.9 minutes per game last season — going all out on every possession — any breaks will be beneficial.
“We want Oscar out there as much as he can, as effective as he can,” Antigua said. “And sometimes that doesn’t mean playing 40 minutes. In actuality, you start getting diminishing returns when you start overplaying. So being able to throw Lance out there. And being able to throw Ugonna out there for whatever time. And then if we need to go small, we can go small. With Daimion at the ‘5,’ or Jacob at the ‘5.’
“You have the flexibility of doing all those things. … It’s a luxury of this team that you can do those things.”
A big opportunity
No matter when Tshiebwe returns, he’s out for the time being, and that means an opportunity for others to show their stuff.
“When you’re in practice with Oscar, you want to take advantage of the opportunity — to show that you can hang with him,” point guard Sahvir Wheeler said of the other bigs. “And when he’s not there, you want to show that, ‘Hey, now that he’s not here, look at me.’ So it’s going to be interesting to see. And it’s going to be fun to see.”
Wheeler said Wednesday that the team had only a couple of non-Oscar practices to that point, so it was tough to get a gauge on who might do what in his absence. That hypothetical was made more difficult with Ware and Toppin both sitting out Tuesday’s practice with injuries. (Neither ailment is serious, according to Calipari).
Ware, who was also at SEC media day, is the closest thing to a game-ready, traditional “5” on Kentucky’s roster.
“I don’t think I’m going to get as many rebounds (as Oscar). But I’m going to play hard,” he said. “Try to get as many rebounds as I can. I mean, the guy had 28 rebounds in one game last year. So, it’s amazing what he can do. But just kind of keep the same energy, high intensity — but also do what I do. Get my teammates involved. Mix up the game a little bit. Bring a different dynamic.”
Ware — listed at 6-foot-9 and 235 pounds — has typically played an all-out style when he’s gotten minutes in the past, and he’s been a constant target of praise from Calipari due to that gritty approach. The junior forward said he’s been working on his face-up game this offseason, however, adding more versatility to his skill set. In the team’s Pro Day scrimmages for NBA scouts a couple of weeks ago, Ware primarily played the “4” spot.
Collins — listed at 6-9 and 210 pounds, with otherworldly athleticism — has had an eye-opening preseason, showing new wrinkles to his game during the team’s trip to the Bahamas and again at Pro Day this month. He has the ability to be a terrific shot-blocker, and with a little added muscle this offseason, he’s displayed a willingness to mix it up in the paint.
“It’s confidence. It’s all confidence,” Wheeler said. “Whether you want to say it’s his body or his skill — it’s confidence. I mean, he was a freshman last year, playing behind the national player of the year. And coming to the SEC — it’s not just some regular conference. It’s one of the best conferences in basketball in the country. So him having that year of growing, of maturing, of knowing who he is and what he can be, how he can affect the game — all that takes a part of how he is today. His maturity. And you’re starting to definitely see what he can be.”
Toppin — listed at 6-9 and 205 pounds — is probably more of a “3” than a “5” on the position spectrum, though he could be Kentucky’s starting “4” and could likely play all three spots, if needed. He, too, has added strength this offseason, and he projects as one of the team’s top rebounders and shot-blockers.
Then there’s Onyenso, who has been battling Tshiebwe in practice, and — despite only joining the team in late August, as a 17-year-old — could play some meaningful minutes this season.
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Ware said of an Onyenso debut sometime soon. “... Obviously, 7-foot, being able to block shots. And he plays really hard. And he’s competitive.”
So, while the Cats will want Tshiebwe to play as many minutes as possible, the frontcourt cupboard is far from bare. And the next couple of weeks, at least, will be an opportunity to see who can do what with the minutes they get.
“Bringing guys back — with some continuity and another year of development; another year of being more confident with who they are in themselves — obviously is going to help us,” Wheeler said. “Whether he does miss some time — or even when he is playing and has foul trouble and he has to sit down — no matter how you look at it, guys are going to step up and be ready.
“Because that’s what our program is. Next man up. And continue to be ready. Because there is going to be a time when your moment is going to arrive.”
Saturday
Blue-White Game
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville
TV: SEC Network Plus (online only)
This story was originally published October 20, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
