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Oscar Tshiebwe injury: John Calipari provides update on Kentucky senior’s availability for season opener
By Rolando Rosa
Published:
Oscar Tshiebwe will be a key piece for Kentucky one more this season, but it looks like his debut will be delayed.
John Calipari previously disclosed on Oct. 11 that the 6-foot-9, 260-pound Tshiebwe had undergone a “minor” knee procedure. Now, however, the Wildcats’ head coach is casting genuine doubt that the reigning National Player of the Year will be good to go by the season opener.
Following an exhibition win over Kentucky State, Calipari on Thursday addressed Tshiebwe’s status for the Wildcats’ season opener against Howard, and the news doesn’t seem promising.
Calipari on whether Oscar can go on Monday… He’ll be stunned if he plays Monday. Would be somewhat surprised if he played Friday. Pain threshold isn’t quite there yet.
— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 4, 2022
After its opener against Howard on Monday, Kentucky then hosts Duquesne on Nov. 11. Calipari also said he “(didn’t) know” if Sahvir Wheeler would be ready in the opening week either, consistent with his comments pregame.
“Will they be ready for the first few games? I don’t know,” Calipari said prior to the exhibition game on Thursday, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Ben Roberts. “I feel really good about us. But that’s when we have a full roster, and we’re ready to go. And that might not be for a while.”
