Chances Oscar returns?

[UK_Born_an_Bread]

Why would he return? He’d been vilified by a particular nasty portion of the fanbase. This after a POY and two first team AA. Those fans turned their back on him. Why would he not do the same to KY?

Both sides better off

 

[JLoad22]

Onyenso and Bradhsaw are on the team. Ugo is going to play and he's going to do alright. You can win basketball games without Oscar Tshiebwe. You lose some rebounding but gain rim protection and defensive presence. You also will have a 7'1 guy in Bradshaw and they are on a few guys who can be reserves too--the Miranda contact was eye opening based on fact he was a heavy lean to Kentucky out of HS and out of all 3 if he were to be focused, he's has the most individual talent. You've seen them reach out to the Kansas kid for the Lance Ware role and they are on a guy like Grant Nelson if he decides to not stay in Draft. Same with Kobe Brown if he decides he'd rather go elsewhere as a grad transfer. At some point players leave/new guys emerge.

Remember when Tshiebwe left WVU he was getting high and was out of shape and lazy. Nobody saw a NPOY season coming from him at all. Not the WVU fans or the Kentucky fans. The beauty of CBB is that guys move on and others get opportunities. Orlando Antigua has done a fine job developing big men at Illinois and Kentucky--Kofi Cockburn and Oscar Tshiebwe specifically. Why can't he continue to succeed here with guys who have impressive physical traits and more skill entering CBB or in case of Onyenso--had a year to work with him and will provide a different presence for the team?

Some of the posts I've seen reinforce the need to get this back to Kentucky Basketball and not Oscar Tshiebwe University.

Long year if Ugonna and Bradshaw are our two bigs, IMO. But it’s not a catastrophe and they can both surprise to the upside so we’ll see.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

UK's best chance at a Final Four next season is if the offense runs through the three freshmen studs. Bradshaw becomes your low-post scorer. Edwards and Wagner working to create mismatches at their respective positions. Reeves becomes your 4th option, and Oscar becomes a rebounder/5th option on offense. Cut his offensive sets in half.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Agree with you on the rebounding-that translates when you see guys like Reggie Evans carve out a niche for instance. He had one skill and that was rebounding. Like Oscar, Evans was old coming out of CBB too.

You lost me with his offensive game. He's a crude offensive player in CBB, that usually is a death sentence for NBA offensive production. His rebounding would have to be retrieve kick because where he'll really struggle is finishing around hoop. If you want to a glance at what it'll look like-go watch Oscar against Alabama this year. That's projecting him in the NBA.

Defensively the pick and roll is less of a problem because as you said, it's impossible to defend for most teams, which is why everyone in the NBA runs it. But the switch offs is where he's truly awful. Lacks lateral movement and quick feet and doesn't close well on shooters. Then when he's caught trying to chase, he's not an elite rim protector so he'll get scored on there as well. Luka Garza hangs around because of his offensive skill and being a good teammate. Oscar needs to focus on rebounding and being a good teammate. That can keep you in league longer than you should be there and hope that happens for him.

All he needs to do is be the best at what he's good at--get rebounds--make some hustle plays and he can make a team. He really wants to move on and give Pro ball a shot and I'm pulling for him to have a strong showing at the Combine.

Fair enough. But my offense comment didn’t mean I thought he was going to become some kind of crafty around the basket scorer. I don’t think he will.

I just meant he won’t be double and triple teamed in the NBA. Nor have junk defenses thrown at him.

He will have more freedom in the NBA. His NBA scoring is as a garbage man. And that will be easier for him than being the focus of the offense.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Both sides better off

We are not a better team without him.

 

[dave5164]

I would believe that Oscar chances of returning to UK is higher than most are saying for next season. I went out and looked at 8 or 9 2023 NBA Mock draft boards and most of them have a TOP 100 included with the 2-rounds and Oscar on most was around #75 on most Mock Boards. The only one that I found Oscar in the 2nd round Mock Draft Board and he was the last pick in 2nd round at #58 since there are only 58 picks in 2023. The Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat lost there 2nd round picks due to tampering. So, I believe in the end Oscar will want to make more money for another year and that will probably be in Lexington since most NBA draft boards don't have him drafted in the first 2 rounds.

 

[dave5164]

Some are saying that Kobe Brown could still be transferring since he graduated in last week he didn't have to hit the portal on 5/11 since he is granduate transfer like Oscar. At 6'9 Brown averaged 16 and 6, 55% FG, 46% from 3 shooting 51 from 112 for 46% from 3, and 80% FT's. He can play both forward positions plus he played at times at the SG with Missouri in last 2 years. Both Brown and Phillips from UT have been talked alot on twitter and I would Brown asap with his numbers this past year. Brown put up 30 points vs. UK on 12/28 and shot 10/18 FG, 4/8 from 3, and 6/8 FT's. That was 55% FG and 50% from 3. Brown had some huge games last year for Missouri. If he would decide not to enter the NBA Draft and decides to transfer then if I was Cal I would go all out to bring Kobe Brown to Kentucky!

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

UK would be so much better with Oscar back it’s silly. Pair him with the incoming talent NOT mid major talent he’s had and you’ll see. Toppin was not UK caliber talent as a go to guy and many of you never wanted to acknowledge that, for example. He was a bench guy and always should have been.

 

[kybassfan]

Both sides better off

Yeah, Oscar makes money and haters get to bash Cal. KY loses a POY, 2 time all American singular rebounder in all of college basketball. So Oscar and haters win. KY loses massively.

I can see where you’d love that outcome.