Kentucky Basketball 2022-23 Season Preview: F Oscar Tshiebwe

As we inch closer to the 2022-23 college basketball season, there is no doubt a clear preseason favorite to win the SEC Player of the Year in Kentucky Basketball’s Oscar Tshiebwe. Coming off a 2021-22 season that was about as good as you could imagine, what will the 2022-23 campaign now have in store for the senior forward?

Kentucky Basketball 2022-23 Season Preview: F Oscar Tshiebwe

One of college basketball’s top transfers last offseason, Tshiebwe came to Kentucky after two impressive seasons at West Virginia, a span in which he averaged a combined 10.6 PPG and 8.9 RPG across 41 games, each of which he started for the Mountaineers. As you now know as well, that move to Kentucky would prove to be an impactful one for the 6-foot-9 forward, leading to a career-year in Lexington as one of the nation’s top players a year ago.

Starting in 34-of-34 games, Tshiebwe would average a combined 17.4 PPG, 15.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.6 BPG for the Wildcats a year ago, while also shooting a career-high 60.6% from the field. Tshiebwe would also post a double-double in 28 of those 34 games, and would finish the season with a double-double in 16 straight games, as well as lead both the conference and nation in rebounding.

As you’d expect with a player as dominant as Tshiebwe was, the Kentucky forward would receive numerous honors and accolades, a list that included the previously mentioned SEC Player of the Year. Included in that lengthy list was also the 2021-22 National Player of the Year, as well as other honors such as First Team All-American, First Team All-SEC, SEC All-Defense, and more.

Likely the preseason favorite for each of those awards once again, Tshiebwe is simply going to be a massive piece for Kentucky Basketball in 2022-23. While it will certainly be hard to duplicate those impressive numbers once again this season, Tshiebwe is a player who could very easily do that however, with it likely that the senior averages a double-double at the least.

Simply put, expect yet another phenomenal season for Tshiebwe in 2022-23 overall, one in which the senior will be one of college basketball’s most dominant interior players, both offensively and defensively. As for if the senior improves even more on those numbers from a year ago, it will certainly be a hard thing to do, but if anyone in the SEC can do it this season, it’s Tshiebwe.

2022-23 Season Prediction: 17.5 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.7 BPG, 59.5 FG%, 70.5 FT%