Oscar Tshiebwe reacts to ‘vintage’ performance against Georgia

Reigning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe had his best performance of the season Tuesday in Kentucky‘s 85-71 victory over Georgia.

The 6-foot-9 big finished with a season-high 37 points and season-high 24 rebounds in 38 minutes, shooting 12 of 20 from the field and 13-for-18 from the free throw line. No Wildcats player has finished with a statline like that since 1976.

It was a brilliant performance for a topsy-turvy Kentucky team in need of some standout play from its best player.

“I thank God I’m feeling good – I’m feeling great,” Tshiebwe said. “So now I’m just spending a lot of time in the gym.”

His teammates were hoping to get Tshiebwe close to 50 points but the senior was not focused on any particular number.

“No I did not track — I was just playing. I play to win. I don’t really mind about how I do, I just fight. Just fight…Some people say you guys were down eight points against Tennessee but you were clapping. I said I did not know we were down by eight points. I thought we were winning. I was just clapping and motivating my team.”

Praise given to Oscar Tshiebwe for performance against Georgia

Unsurprisingly, everyone was ready to heap praise upon Oscar Tshiebwe for his brilliant double-double against Georgia.

“He was unbelievable,” Bulldogs coach Mike White said. “Credit him and his mentality, his motor, his physical toughness, his physicality that he played with, even defensively. We didn’t match it. We didn’t match it at all.”

It has been an up-and-down season for Tshiebwe with Calipari recently saying he’s talked with his starting center about getting into better shape.

If Tuesday was any indication, it was a good call.

“I got on (Tshiebwe) two weeks ago. Get in that gym! That’s why you were who you were. You’re not playing like you were a year ago,” Calipari said. “He’s been in there two weeks, how’s it look now?“