Oscar Tshiebwe named USBWA National Player of the Year
How about two Player of the Year awards in a matter of minutes for Oscar Tshiebwe?
Almost immediately after he was named The Associated Press’ Men’s College Player of the Year on Friday afternoon, the Kentucky center hauled in another significant honor, earning the Oscar Robertson Trophy as the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) Player of the Year. Tshiebwe has now been named Player of the Year in four of the six most recognized POY awards: USBWA, AP, Sporting News, and NABC. At this point, he’s considered the favorite to sweep National Player of the Year honors, with just the Naismith and Wooden Award left to be announced.
“The things that he’s done haven’t been done for 50 years,” Wildcats head coach John Calipari said, per the USBWA’s press release. “Let me say this again, the things that he’s done haven’t been done for 50 years. He plays his heart out and finds ways to impact every game. I’m proud of him, and it’s not only on the court. He’s so thankful and faith-based and he’s a joy to coach.”
Tshiebwe is just the third player coached under Calipari to earn the award, joining Marcus Camby’s 1995-96 season at UMass. Anthony Davis (2012) is the only other Wildcat to win the award.
The USBWA made the announcement on Friday at the site of the men’s Final Four down in New Orleans, LA.
Below is more information on the Oscar Robertson Trophy, courtesy of the organization’s website.
“The Oscar Robertson Trophy is voted on by the entire membership of the association, which consists of more than 900 journalists. It is the nation’s oldest award. ‘The Big O’ won the USBWA’s first two national player of the year awards in 1959 and ’60 and was the consensus national player of the year as a sophomore at Cincinnati in 1958, the year before USBWA began presenting its player of the year award. The USBWA renamed the award the Oscar Robertson Trophy in 1998.”
Tshiebwe became the first player in over 40 years to average at least 15 points and 15 rebounds across an entire season, settling on year-long figures of 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds across 34 outings for the ‘Cats. He also shot 60.6 percent from the floor and 69.1 percent from the free-throw line as he’s hauled in two trophy cases worth of awards since the season came to a close.
Below is an extensive list of every award or recognition that Tshiebwe has earned this season.
AP Men’s College Player of the Year
NABC National Player of the Year
USBWA National Player of the Year
Sporting News College Player of the Year
NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year
NCAA Consensus All-America First Team
USBWA First-Team All-America
NABC First-Team All-America
Associated Press First-Team All-America
Sporting News First-Team All-America
NABC All-District 20 First Team
Southeastern Conference Player of the Year (coaches/media)
All-SEC First Team (coaches/media)
All-SEC Defensive Team (coaches)
USBWA District IV Player of the Year
USBWA All-District IV team
USA Today National Player of the Year
USA Today First-Team All-American
The Athletic’s National Player of the Year
Sports Illustrated First-Team All-American
The Field of 68 National Player of the Year
The Field of 68 First-Team All-America
College Hoops Today National Player of the Year
USA Today SEC Player of the Year
USA Today First-Team All-SEC unanimous selection
Wooden Award All-American
How about another round of applause for the Kentucky version of Big O?
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