Oscar

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Just want to say thank for everything man, you played your *** off every game and I’m sorry you didn’t get the tournament run you deserved. I know Oscar had his faults but he would bring it pretty much every night. If this was his last game, I just want to say thank you for a dominant two years here

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Absolutely! He deserves better. JMO.

 

[wildcat62]

Shout out to Oscar. Love watching him play. Rebound machine...

 

[LmdCat]

Oscar certainly deserves credit, but he has some things he has got to work on. His defense is missing in action at times. He should have never been helping Wallace by doubling on the point while leaving his man under the basket wide open. He also has to get better at passing out of the double team and stop holding the ball so low.

 

[Emarc]

if moving on, will never see his like again. Just amazing. Bumped someone off our Mt Rushmore.

 

[TFCat11]

Without OT the last two seasons, it’s almost unthinkable

 

[MoneyMuntz]

We might get a 3rd year outta him. If not, it’s been a pleasure and I appreciative him as much as any player in our history.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Oscar’s stats in his two tourney loses are 32 & 18 and 25 and 18 today. Man I’m sick for him, he balled out and his teammates failed him(outside of a couple of them)

 

[UKcats#1]

Oscar had a good game. I hope he comes back next year. If he decides to leave I wish him luck. He will be missed next year.

 

[RoyKent]

Oscar deserved better the past two years.

 

[catzfanjim]

Oscar is a really good basketball player and a even better person. I'm proud that he wore the Kentucky uniform for 2 years.

 

[fredmanthecatfan]

I would LOVE for him to come back. With NIL, who knows. Him and a couple of others, like Livingston, would make me feel a little better about next season, despite the clown on the sidelines.

 

[BradleyCrawford08_rivals]

I really feel bad for him. Feels just like guys like Chuck Hayes, Ramel Bradley, Joe Crawford, Jodie Meeks, Patrick Patterson, and others who never got the chance to be in a Final Four or win a title. Oscar gave everything for this team. If this is truly the end, thank you Oscar for what you gave to the team and university.

 

[LmdCat]

The little guy that no one wanted on the floor would have been a big help to us today. If our guard had been able to create off the dribble, we could have destroyed them inside.

 

[jbne222]

Man I feel for him. He was absolutely incredible today. All he cared about was winning and we didn't do it for him. Would love to see him back.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Oscar certainly deserves credit, but he has some things he has got to work on. His defense is missing in action at times. He should have never been helping Wallace by doubling on the point while leaving his man under the basket wide open. He also has to get better at passing out of the double team and stop holding the ball so low.

Holding the ball down low is his his worst trait, if he keeps it high he would get 6-8 more points a game, but still I appreciate everything he did here and I’m sad he didn’t get that tourney run many of our star players did

 

[RalphDaltonFan]

The little guy that no one wanted on the floor would have been a big help to us today. If we our guard had been able to create of the dribble, we could have destroyed them inside.

Wheeler wasn't physically capable of handling that kid be it full strength or hobbled. He'd have been abused. Offensively he'd have been swallowed up by getting too deep and unable to finish at rim. Best offense in 2nd Half was Wallace going to the rim and he almost single handedly pulled it off. Then Lance Ware's minutes appeared and the Ware experience cost UK 6 pts--4 on defensive end and a blown dunk because he can't simply gather/go up and finish.

This wasn't a team that deserved a run. They got what they deserved and played to all year.

 

[Bluesbrother]

Absolutely! He deserves better. JMO.

No **** ... he certainly deserves a better damn coach.

 

[LmdCat]

If Oscar isn't willing to come back next season primarily for rebounding purposes, he will do more harm than good. Oscar has no upside offensively and he can't possibly be any better at rebounding because he is already one of the best ever. However, we need a true center in that position for defensive purposes.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Oscar deserved better the past two years.

Might be the sadness Kentucky picture I have ever seen

 

[LmdCat]

Wheeler wasn't physically capable of handling that kid be it full strength or hobbled. He'd have been abused. Offensively he'd have been swallowed up by getting too deep and unable to finish at rim. Best offense in 2nd Half was Wallace going to the rim and he almost single handedly pulled it off. Then Lance Ware's minutes appeared and the Ware experience cost UK 6 pts--4 on defensive end and a blown dunk because he can't simply gather/go up and finish.

This wasn't a team that deserved a run. They got what they deserved and played to all year.

You will never know.

 

[Crawfords Corner]

Thank you, Oscar!


Maybe if he comes back next season we can make it to the Sweet 16 and then lose.

 

[Thunder Mash]

It's sickening to see Oscar carrying the team for two years, and everybody just stands around and watches. Next year when Kentucky can't buy a rebound, remember that Calipari blew having the best rebounder most of us have ever seen.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Wheeler wasn't physically capable of handling that kid be it full strength or hobbled. He'd have been abused. Offensively he'd have been swallowed up by getting too deep and unable to finish at rim. Best offense in 2nd Half was Wallace going to the rim and he almost single handedly pulled it off. Then Lance Ware's minutes appeared and the Ware experience cost UK 6 pts--4 on defensive end and a blown dunk because he can't simply gather/go up and finish.

This wasn't a team that deserved a run. They got what they deserved and played to all year.

Agree. However, he could’ve provided some minutes at the end of half, when Wallace went out on that second (BOGUS) foul. We fell apart those 3 minutes.

 

[kyhoward]

Oscar is not a beast, he is the beast. Has some deficiencies in his game but the biggest heart in college basketball! Cannot remember a similar player in my 50+ years watching the game.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Absolutely! He deserves better. JMO.

Yep! Run it back Oscar. I think you will at least have some scoring help next year.

 

[LmdCat]

Wheeler wasn't physically capable of handling that kid be it full strength or hobbled. He'd have been abused. Offensively he'd have been swallowed up by getting too deep and unable to finish at rim. Best offense in 2nd Half was Wallace going to the rim and he almost single handedly pulled it off. Then Lance Ware's minutes appeared and the Ware experience cost UK 6 pts--4 on defensive end and a blown dunk because he can't simply gather/go up and finish.

This wasn't a team that deserved a run. They got what they deserved and played to all year.

I was screaming for us to attack the rim the entire game so why didn't our HOF coach start the game with that strategy? I thought that was the reason he had Oscar on the high post for most of the first half. I will never understand why he took Toppin and Oscar out of the game in the first half at the same time.

 

[Cowtown Cat]

Yep! Run it back Oscar. I think you will at least have some scoring help next year.

Would LOVE him back to have with these young guys.

 

[Emarc]

Might be the sadness Kentucky picture I have ever seen

True and that scene will be repeated by all teams except one.

 

[RalphDaltonFan]

I was screaming for us to attack the rim the entire game so why didn't our HOF coach start the game with that strategy? I thought that was the reason he had Oscar on the high post for most of the first half. I will never understand why he took Toppins and Oscar out of the game in the first half at the same time.

I agree. Just saying Wheeler wasn't going to make any difference today. Wallace played well overall and along with Oscar was only reason UK was in the game.

 

[JDennison]

if moving on, will never see his like again. Just amazing. Bumped someone off our Mt Rushmore.

Who are you bumping off??

 

[LmdCat]

I agree. Just saying Wheeler wasn't going to make any difference today. Wallace played well overall and along with Oscar was only reason UK was in the game.

Wallace is good at what he does, but if you are stating that he handles the ball as well as Wheeler and can penetrate off the dribble like him, you are being dishonest.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

Who are you bumping off??

I agree. Just saying Wheeler wasn't going to make any difference today. Wallace played well overall and along with Oscar was only reason UK was in the game.

With as physical as Kansas states guards were today wheller wouldn’t have helped today, Kentucky should have mixed up the defenses more and made nowell have to face different looks

 

[LmdCat]

With as physical as Kansas states guards were today wheller wouldn’t have helped today, Kentucky should have mixed up the defenses more and made nowell have to face different looks

If Kentucky couldn't handle the physicality of a 5'8" guard, we are going home where we should be.

 

[DaDirtyLeb69]

If Kentucky couldn't handle the physicality of a 5'8" guard, we are going home where we should be.

Wallace handled it well, but reeves and fredrick didn’t

 

[rabbitTown]

Oscar is a man among boys... literally.
All the 23-year-olds that could have hung with him moved on 4 years prior.
He is that rare tweener, that likely isn't a POY or All-American 15 years ago... but so rare in college basketball today. Glad he was a Wildcat.

 

[HenryMuto]

Gave us all he had today even hit 6 straight FT's down the stretch but only Wallace and Oscar showed up today.

 

[RalphDaltonFan]

Wallace is good at what he does, but if you are stating that he handles the ball as well as Wheeler and can penetrate off the dribble like him, you are being dishonest.

A guy who has gained 8 to 10 lbs due to sitting out with injuries isn't going to do anything in a game like this and it's not fair to judge him if he was put in the game. They expected him to play in SEC Tournament too. He decided he didn't want to play. So you roll with what you have. Other things go into this too. Wheeler's not the answer for this program moving forward and he won't be back so onto next year's guards.

Wallace can finish at the rim. Penetrating today would've done exactly what? Helped Reeves miss more open jumpers as he was? I mean Reeves wasn't hugged out there-he was just throwing bricks. Wheeler's biggest asset would've been allowing Wallace to get a breather and seeing if he could get a tech on fellow NY'er for KSU. But if you can mock shooting an opposing bench that was unlikely to happen.

UK needed the scoring at the rim today. They finally got that and were up and moving in right direction and then they hit 4 big 3pt shots which were defended well. UK couldn't make a jumpshot which is a weakness and has been. Game. Season over.

I am glad Wheeler will be gone. He's as fragile as Fredrick. Can't have that in big time CBB. Availability/Durability are needed.

 

[Patriot202]

No Oscar NO tournament appearances this year
The kid did us a blessing returning after winning the national player of the year.

Amazing player & a better guy all around.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Would LOVE him back to have with these young guys.

Finally have some guys who in theory should take a little pressure off him and beat their man off the dribble at least.