UK Men’s Basketball Media Day opened today as media had a chance to interview the players.
Senior Oscar Tshiebwe who has been out with a knee injury. When asked for an update on the injury Oscar stated “I feel good. I think I will be back by the time the season starts.”
But coach John Calipari still doesn’t have a date for Tshiebwe’s return.
“I don’t know,” he said. “But he’s moving pretty good. He’s moving around. He’s got to stay off his feet. The kid will stay and sign autographs, take pictures. He’s got to stay off his feet. So, when he trains it may swell a little bit, but it will go away. It will swell a little bit; it will go away. But he’s telling me, he says, I feel really good, my leg feels good. I don’t have the same pain, the pain that was there. He said it wasn’t much, but there’s nothing now.
“And it’s more that he’s got to go through it,” Calipari added. “But my thing is, let’s, we’re not going to hold him back, but you’re not going to push him forward either. And his pace and timing may be different than someone else. Someone else may be longer. Someone else may be shorter. I don’t know. But I do know he’s 252 pounds. He’sbig. Seven percent body fat on top of it.”
When asked about this year’s team, Calipari said, said, “I will tell you, we have a great group of guys who are great teammates that pick each other up, that challenge each other. And let me say this, that gives you a chance. The other means you’re failing. Forget about postseason. You’re not making it. This team is together, talented.”
Last season didn’t end the way anyone anticipated but that doesn’t change just how good Kentucky can be this season.
“When your best player, Oscar Tshiebwe, is in the Bahamas and the fifth leading scorer and is cheering harder for his teammates than anyone else, it means you got a chance,” Calipari said.
The Wildcats will open up their season in an exhibition game on Sunday, October 30th against Missouri Western State as the Cats officially begin a run at their ninth National title.
