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WATCH: Oscar Tshiebwe returns for Kentucky vs. Michigan State

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•11/15/22
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(Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

The Kentucky basketball team will have a major impact player back on Tuesday night against Michigan State, with big man Oscar Tshiebwe returning to action in a limited capacity following a knee procedure a few weeks back.

Tshiebwe did not play in Kentucky’s first two wins but will suit up tonight.

“We are expecting to see the season debut of the reigning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe,” ESPN broadcaster Dan Shulman said. “A minor knee procedure a few weeks ago, he has not played in either of Kentucky’s first two games but obviously this is a game-changer. This is a guy who just gobbles up rebounds like crazy.”

Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds a year ago for Kentucky, while also chipping in 1.8 steals, 1.6 blocks and 1.1 assists per contest.

It’s unclear how big a role he’ll play Tuesday night.

“We don’t know how many minutes,” Shulman said. “We don’t know if it’s short spurts here and there, but we do expect to see Oscar Tshiebwe on the floor for parts of this game tonight as Kentucky looks to go to 3-0, taking on a Michigan State team that is 1-1, the loss to Gonzaga on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln just a few days ago.”

Oscar Tshiebwe returns, reinvigorated and refocused

ESPN added some additional color and insight into Tshiebwe’s return, which put him into rare company. Most players with his kind of numbers end up in the NBA Draft sooner than later.

“Oscar Tshiebwe is the first National Player of the Year to return to play in college since 2008 when Tyler Hansbrough did it, and he has a very clear focus for what he’s working towards,” sideline reporter Holly Rowe said. “He went home to the Democratic Republic of Congo this past offseason for the first time in six years. He got to visit his mom and family, who are living in cramped quarters with 10 people. He said, ‘I am working for my family and their future.'”

What exactly has Tshiebwe done to work toward that?

“He’s got a clear idea of what he wants to improve,” Rowe said. “He’s down eight pounds, his body fat is down three percent. He’s lean and ready to rock and Oscar Tshiebwe has a very clear focus and mindset for this season.”