Coming off best college game, Ugonna Onyenso is "playing with a lot more confidence."

ZGeogheganKSR

Kentucky sophomore Ugonna Onyenso has solidified himself as the Wildcats’ go-to seven-footer as of late. That could always change moving forward — John Calipari does have two other seven-footers at his disposal, after all — but there’s no denying the impact Onyenso has made over the last couple of games.

It started with the road win against Arkansas last weekend when he was part of Kentucky’s five-man lineup that played the vast majority of the second half together, fueling a comeback win. He finished with six points, four rebounds, and three blocks in 25 minutes.

Onyenso took his game to another level in the following outing against Florida on Wednesday, posting career highs in four different categories: points (13), rebounds (16; nine offensive), blocks (eight), and minutes (33). He also went 5-6 from the free-throw line after making just five in his first 10 games combined. Onyenso’s effort ultimately came in a loss, but the big man has locked down a starting role that is now his to lose moving forward.

“He’s been working. He’s been in the gym, he’s been in the weight room getting stronger,” Sophomore Adou Thiero said during Friday’s pre-Tennessee press conference. “He’s just playing with a lot more confidence I think.”

Confidence was the buzzword that UK freshman Reed Sheppard and Florida head coach Todd Golden also used to describe Onyenso earlier this week. That confidence is manifesting itself on the hardwood. Onyenso went from averaging 14 minutes per game across his first nine outings this season to 29 over the last two. The rim protection he provides helps a Kentucky defense that has struggled all season long.

“He means a lot, as ya’ll could see last game,” Freshman Justin Edwards said on Friday. “What he have? Like 13 (points), 16 (rebounds), and nine (blocks)? That’s a big part of our team, just having another guy that can rebound and protect the rim for us. Just in case something breaks down, he’s always the guy we can depend on.“

Onyenso has already collected 31 blocks this season in just 11 games of action. Tre Mitchell is the next closest with 25, but he’s played nine more contests. With a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Onyenso is always hovering around the rim, using his size to block shots and corral rebounds. His block percentage of 15.0 in conference games leads the entire SEC, per KenPom, and his 16.6 defensive rebounding percentage ranks 22nd.

But even with Onyenso’s 16 rebounds and eight blocks, Kentucky still gave up 94 points in overtime to Florida. He can only do so much when he’s planted mostly in the paint on defense. However, Kentucky has been stressing the idea of funneling the opponent toward Onyenso more often by not falling for pump fakes and running them off the three-point line.

“Our coaches have been emphasizing that a lot,” Edwards said. “The last couple of teams we played been having a lot of shooters, so closing out and being solid. Coach says we have a shot blocker, so we don’t have to jump after shots a majority of the time.”

Onyenso will face a major challenge in the paint on Saturday night when Kentucky hosts No. 5 Tennessee at 8:30 p.m. EST on ESPN. Not only will he have to deter the hot-shooting Dalton Knecht from getting to the rim, but he’ll also have to battle against the Volunteers’ 6-foot-11 big man Jonas Aidoo, an equally talented rebounder and shot blocker.