Run, Oscar, Run: Tshiebwe is unstoppable if opponents can't keep up, he says

In the first half of Kentucky’s game at South Carolina, Oscar Tshiebwe wasn’t quite himself. He seemed almost human even, not like a machine capable of 28 rebounds in a single game. At halftime against the Gamecocks, Tshiebwe had as many fouls as he did rebounds: two.

The second half was another story.

“I knew that was not going to keep up for the whole game,” said Tshiebwe, who finished with 14 rebounds and 18 points (12 in each column in the second half). He struggled with South Carolina’s physicality and pressure early, but the Gamecocks’ tanks emptied as Tshiebwe was hitting the gas.

“The second half, I just said, we gotta run. We gotta run. If you’re not running, then you can’t stop me.”

By staying active and running the floor, the game opened up for Tshiebwe and, in turn, his teammates.

“I think the second half, I started with a lot of running,” he explained in his postgame press conference. “That’s what made the game a little bit easy. Their big men, they had to keep up running because I think I run a lot, so I changed to my game.”

He added, “When I run, I open up for my teammates because somebody has to come in and stop me from scoring. Then, somebody else is open. Kellan, Davion; they’re open on the wing making 3s. If they miss, I’ll try to rebound.”

Late in the game, Tshiebwe realized South Carolina was completely gassed and at that point he was unstoppable on the glass.

“Nobody else was going to the rim,” said Tshiebwe. “That was a chance for me to get every rebound.”

Hear him talk about all of the running he did in his postgame remarks before the flight home.

Or maybe he ran home. Would it surprise you?