Florida had zero answers for Oscar Tshiebwe this season
In two games against the Florida Gators in the 2021-22 season, Oscar Tshiebwe has combined to put up totals of 54 points and 33 rebounds for an average of 27 points and 17 rebounds per outing. The 6-foot-9 center hit 11 made field goals apiece in both outings, shooting nearly 65 percent from the floor in the process. The vast majority of that production came against Florida’s best player, 6-foot-11 big man Colin Castleton, who is widely considered as one of the better post players in not only the SEC, but the entire country.
That matchup never once seemed to bother Tshiebwe, though, as he thoroughly outplayed Castleton on both ends of the floor. Kentucky won both games with relative ease, smacking Florida at Rupp Arena 78-57 in mid-February before sneaking out of Gainesville with a 71-63 win on Saturday afternoon.
What makes Tshiebwe’s numbers even more impressive is when they’re stacked up against Castleton’s. The Florida big posted 18 points and seven rebounds in the first meeting and then 23 points and 11 rebounds in the rematch — more than respectable figures. But when Tshiebwe is dropping 27 points and 19 rebounds as he did a few weeks ago, or 27 points and 15 rebounds as he did on Saturday, it’s easy to get overshadowed.
There was a point during Saturday’s victory where Florida simply had zero answers for Tshiebwe in the paint. He scored 11 consecutive points to start the second half for Kentucky as head coach John Calipari continued to run his offense through the National Player of the Year frontrunner. Castleton, who has two inches on Tshiebwe but gives up about 15 pounds, was getting tossed around like a house salad in front of the Gator faithful.
When Kentucky’s offense couldn’t generate an easy bucket, all Tshiebwe’s teammates needed was a quick reminder from their head coach that no one on Florida could slow him down.
“I was finishing in that moment. Like, no one was stopping me,” Tshiebwe said postgame. “So that’s why Coach was like, we got to go through Oscar. So as soon as they start trying to come, we start kicking it (out).”
“Sometimes we just stir away from that and (Coach Calipari) helped us get back to it and it showed that throwing him the ball is very effective,” UK forward Jacob Toppin said of Tshiebwe following Saturday’s game. “If he continues to produce, if he continues to be dominant in that post, we’re going to keep continuing to throw him the ball.”
But even on defense, Tshiebwe more than held his own. He recorded three steals in the first matchup against Florida before adding two blocks and three more steals in the second outing. Castleton was still able to get his numbers but missed multiple shots right at the rim due to Tshiebwe’s length and discipline with his arms. Tshiebwe sure did look the part of a National Defensive Player of the Year candidate on Saturday in a tough road environment.
Normally, a team doesn’t want to face the same opponent three times in the same season. However, if Kentucky were to match up against Florida in the 2022 SEC Tournament, there won’t be a player more excited than Tshiebwe.
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