Oscar Tshiebwe determined to keep his cool vs. Providence

The script for beating Kentucky this season includes a big section on Oscar Tshiebwe. The reigning national player of the year is the best in the sport at dominating the boards, but his flaws have been exposed this season. His pick-and-roll defense is the most obvious example, but recently, the normally unflappable Oscar has started to lose his cool. In the last two games, Oscar has gotten Flagrant One technical fouls for throwing elbows. It actually happened twice in that first game, vs. Arkansas, but the refs only called one Flagrant One, giving a common foul for the other. Against Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament, Oscar was called for another Flagrant One, which happened during the Commodores’ 12-0 run that changed the game.

Ahead of what could be Kentucky’s final game, Oscar told reporters he’s determined to keep his cool despite what his opponents say or do to him.

“I’m gonna be a beast. I’m going to fight. Fight, fight, grab the rebounds, stay locked in, not let anything affect me. I know they’re going to try to mess with my mind a little bit but I’m not going to let that happen. I’m going to stay locked in because the more focused I am, the more I’m helping my team.”

John Calipari said he hopes the officiating tonight will reflect the high stakes, meaning if teams actively go after Oscar as they have throughout this season and last, they’ll be called for fouls too.

“What you hope is the physicalness of the game is called. Oscar has been with me now two years. How many times has he had outbursts? You watched us. I think he just got tired of it. He said, ‘That’s it.’

“And this is a quiet, faithful — you know, I’m a sinner, and when I’m around him, I feel like a miserable sinner. This kid is — who he looks to be is who he is. What I would guess is if they try to get too physical, if they block out facing him, they’ll be called fouls, and that would be my hope.”

“I’ve seen five people try to block him out at once,” Lance Ware told reporters. “He is the main focus every time a shot goes up. Everybody runs to him. So it’s kind of unfair sometimes if the refs don’t call the fouls they are supposed to call when they hold and grab him and try to throw him to the floor. But it’s part of the game and you have to fight through it.”

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.

Tonight, Oscar will go up against 6’8″ 240 lbs, redshirt senior Ed Croswell. The former La Salle big man averages 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, but only had six points and four rebounds in Providence’s loss to UConn in the Big East Tournament. Croswell recorded eight double-doubles this season, three in the last five games. When asked about going at Oscar, he didn’t bite.

“You know, our strategy going into this game is playing our brand of basketball, Providence College basketball. Physical, strong, tough. We’re going to bring that heat, and we’re going to bring that energy tomorrow.”

Providence coach Ed Cooley heaped praise on Oscar but did say the Friars are prepared to throw everything they’ve got at him.

“Oscar is an elite, elite rebounder, elite player. His length, his second jump, his physicality. He also has some elite teammates. You know, he is the National Player of the Year, but he can’t do it alone. His teammates know his strengths and weaknesses. He has a Hall of Fame coach who I respect to the highest level.

“They’re a great team, but, you know, when you are preparing for someone like that, you’ve got to try to go at them as much as he is going to come at us.”

And when it happens, elbows down, Oscar.

“It’s something I deal with all the time, but you just have to be strong mentally,” Oscar said. “And I have to keep my elbows down a little.”