John Calipari defends Oscar Tshiebwe calling out teammates

Following Kentucky’s 85-71 win over Georgia, head coach John Calipari defended Wildcats’ star Oscar Tshiebwe for calling out his teammates.

Tshiebwe called out teammates after a loss to South Carolina for a lack of “fight” in the team and relayed the message to Calipari. However, the head coach chalked it up to a language barrier situation and said no one took offense from the intended message.

Whatever was said happened to work as Kentucky won two in a row since Tshiebwe called out other Wildcats.

“Now he’s very intelligent,” Calipari said of Tshiebwe. “How many languages (does he speak), like six? English is probably No. 6. He told me to put in a walk-on, he never did that … So sometimes he’ll do stuff like that. And he’ll feel bad, ‘Well I didn’t know that meant that.’ Yeah, that’s what it means. So you don’t do it. He’s the greatest kid. You saw that he’s such a good kid that that’s what they did, they wanted him to get 50 (points). 

“They couldn’t care less, they want to win the game now. We’re not playing for ourselves. We’re playing for each other now. And I will tell you that everybody was fine with it. You know why? Because they know him.” 

Calipari maintained Tshiebwe’s conditioning improved over the last two weeks. With that being said, Kentucky as a unit improved since the star “called out” his teammates.

“What he’s done for two weeks, he’s been in the gym,” Calipari said. “Last year, he lived in the gym. For a while, he was in the gym, but not the same. Someone says ‘you’re criticizing him.’ No. I’m telling you for the last two weeks he (has) lived in the gym … That’s how you build your confidence. That’s how you build your stamina. You know what I told him? Dunk every ball. Quit laying balls in, jump up. 

“But he had to get in the gym to be that way. Now you’re seeing him be how he was a year ago. Was he that way two weeks ago? No. That’s why I said what I said. Not to be disrespectful or talk down on Oscar, I love Oscar. He knows I love coaching him.”

Tshiebwe put up big numbers against Georgia in the win. He finished with 37 points, 24 rebounds and one assist.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

Cason Wallace was the next highest scorer. He put up 17 points, two rebounds and one assist.