John Calipari goes off on the notion that Oscar Tshiebwe might not win National Player of the Year

If anyone has made their case for National Player of the Year, it’s been Oscar Tshiebwe. He’s currently breaking records that’ve stood at Kentucky for decades and is on pace to be the most dominant big man of the John Calipari era — which is saying something when players like Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, DeMarcus Cousins, Willie Cauley-Stein and others have all came through the program in the last 13 years.

“I’d be surprised, you know, but I’ve been surprised before,” Calipari said about Tshiebwe potentially not winning the award. “The things that [Tshiebwe] has done hadn’t been done for 50 years. Years. So how could you not do it?”

Tshiebwe totaled 27 points and 15 rebounds (including 11-straight to start the second half), adding two blocked shots and three steals in Saturday’s 71-63 victory over the Florida Gators. With each game, the 6-foot-9 junior continues rewrite the record books of one of the most storied programs in college basketball.

After Saturday’s game alone, Tshiebwe notched his 13th-straight double-double, which is the most for a Wildcat since at least 1967-68, not to mention his 25th double-double of the season overall, which now ranks second in the nation in that category. He is one behind the school record of 26 by all-time UK great Dan Issel set back in 1969-70. Staying on the topic of Issel, Saturday was Tshiebwe’s seventh game this season with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds, the most since Issel’s seven 20-15 games in the 1968-69 season.

He has scored double figures in 13 straight games, the most at UK since Immanuel Quickley had a 20-game stretch during the 2019-20 season. Tshiebwe, who is the nation’s leading rebounder, has 18 straight games with double-figure rebounds, longest streak in one season since Kevin Marfo of Quinnipiac’s 20-game stretch in 2019-20.  Tshiebwe has also grabbed double-figure boards in all but two games this season — both due to foul trouble.

While Calipari can’t tell whether or not Tshiebwe will ultimately earn Player of the Year honors, “I can tell you that I’m proud of him,” Calipari said. “And it’s not only on the court [but] off the court. This kid’s a model citizen with how hard he works.”

Tshiebwe has been going around Lexington speaking to elementary school students and sitting in on ESL learning classes to better help them understand that just because English isn’t your first language, you’re not out of place in America. Tshiebwe, who speaks six languages and knew no English whatsoever when he arrived in the States in 2015, can relate to them directly. Add that onto his membership in the University of Kentucky FCA group that has turned into him speaking to church-goers during Sunday service, what isn’t there to like about the guy?

“He’s a beautiful kid and he’s just playing. He’s so thankful. You know, so faith based. I mean, it’s been great. I’ve enjoyed coaching him,” Calipari said.