LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky begins the season with college basketball’s best player and a preseason No. 4 ranking, though it’s unknown when injured Oscar Tshiebwe will be available to help the Wildcats live to up to their lofty billing.
To hear coach John Calipari tell it, the consensus national player of the year isn’t the only one nursing injuries as another season of high expectations commences.
Kentucky (26-8, 14-4 Southeastern Conference last season) is again the early conference media favorite, thanks in large part to the return of the 6-foot-9 Tsheibwe, who averaged 17.4 points and a nation-leading 15.1 rebounds to sweep all six major awards as the nation’s best player.
The Associated Press player of the year returned for his senior season to resume a NCAA championship quest that was rudely derailed in a first-round NCAA upset by No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s, and to expand his skills for an expected spot in next year’s NBA draft.
Which is why Tshiebwe’s recent “minor” procedure on his knee, as Calipari described it last week, has drawn major attention.
He won’t play in Saturday’s Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage to benefit eastern Kentucky flood victims, and Calipari won’t say when he’ll return.
“To be honest, I can’t tell you because when I saw him yesterday, I just busted out laughing,” the coach said Wednesday. “Like, you’re supposed to be swelled, you’re supposed to be on crutches for a week. He’s walking around showing, ‘Look, I’m fine, and I’ve got no swelling.’
“Now, you know me well enough, I’ll keep him out longer than he probably should. But he’s pretty resilient.”
The Wildcats have plenty around Tsheibwe to make a deep postseason run.
Also back are guard Sahvir Wheeler (10.1 points, 6.9 assists), and forwards Jacob Toppin (6.2, 3.2 boards), Lance Ware and Daimion Collins.
Kentucky added high-scoring former Illinois State guard Antonio Reeves through the transfer portal — along with another top-three recruiting class.
Which is why Wheeler and Calipari aren’t concerned with when Tshiebwe returns, as much as how much better he might be.
“You guys are going to see,” Wheeler said. “All he wants to do is win. That’s who he is. One of the reasons he came back is he said he wants to win a national championship.”
HERALDED NEWCOMERS
Kentucky’s latest group of All-America prospects include forward Chris Livingston and guard Cason Wallace, both rated in the top 10 by national recruiting blogs.
Another guard, Adou Theiro, has also drawn raves for his multiple skills shown in summer practice.
Ugonna Kingsley Onyenso, a 6-11 post player rated top-35 in next year’s class, reclassified and signed and will join the team this semester.
BIG-MAN SUPPORT
Depending on how long Tshiebwe is out, Kentucky has several teammates ready to step into his spot or bolster its post presence.
Toppin showed promise as a scorer and seems ready for more opportunities.
Ware and Collins figure to play bigger roles than last season, where they combined for just 4.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.
FREDRICK AVAILABLE
Guard C.J. Fredrick, an Iowa transfer who missed last season after tearing his left hamstring, is healed and expected to contribute from the perimeter.
As a Hawkeyes sophomore, he shot 47-percent from behind the arc — and posted a 5.2 assist-to-turnover ratio.
THE GAUNTLET
The Bluegrass showdown against archrival Louisville resumes on New Year’s Eve at Rupp Arena with some intrigue — after the Cardinals hired former player and longtime Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne as coach.
The docket includes other marquee games including at Gonzaga (Nov. 20), to begin a six-year home-and-home series, Michigan State (Nov. 15, Indianapolis); Michigan (Dec. 4, London); UCLA (Dec. 17, New York); and Kansas (Jan. 28, SEC/Big 12 Challenge) along with the usual SEC minefield.
