Sports
Engaging Oscar Tshiebwe thriving on, off the court with Kentucky
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An interesting Oscar Tshiebwe has received over Kentucky basketball followers together with his record-breaking play on the court docket and affable character off of it.
The 6-foot-9 native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo anchors the No. 7 Wildcats’ assault together with his tenacity on the court docket, together with rebounding abilities not seen at Kentucky in a technology. He feels blessed to be on this place and he by no means appears to cease smiling.
“I simply spend extra time to do higher the issues that I’m capable of do, just like the rebounding and operating the ground,” mentioned Tshiebwe, a junior who transferred final spring after 1½ seasons at West Virginia. “The remainder of the issues are coming. … My offense is getting higher, my passing means’s getting higher.
“It’s about doing what you do finest, (and) hold getting higher.”
And he’s really having fun with the journey.
Tshiebwe fulfills almost each autograph and selfie request nearly to a fault, which may jeopardize any schedule he tries to maintain.
He not too long ago appeared at a Lexington church, the place his lodging of photo-seeking-fans upon arrival delayed the service and his sermon about half-hour. A Wildcat teammate as soon as chided him for operating late as he signed autographs exterior the dormitory as they have been boarding the workforce van certain for Rupp Area.
“That simply tells you proper there that he actually cares for each single fan,” guard Sahvir Wheeler mentioned. “He needs each single fan to really feel like they’ve had an affect, or he could make their day with a smile or an image. And that tells you who he’s as an individual earlier than a basketball participant.”
Tshiebwe the individual might at some point could possibly be main a congregation, not a basketball workforce. His late father, Mbuyi, was a pastor and Kentucky’s huge man typically speaks of his religion and remembers a childhood spent within the church.
Final month Tshiebwe attended a service at Broadway Baptist Church, the place he spoke for quarter-hour with its rising African congregation. Pastor Daniel Ausbun noticed a ardour within the participant that he mentioned revealed a calling to ministry.
“He genuinely wished a possibility to evangelise and suggestions on how he could possibly be a greater preacher,” mentioned Ausbun, who added that Tshiebwe spent one other 40 minutes afterward greeting individuals.
“It’s like basketball. Coach (John) Calipari has talked about how onerous he works within the gymnasium and in observe,” the pastor mentioned. “He did the identical in preaching.”
On the court docket, Tshiebwe isn’t the one motive Kentucky (26-7) is within the combine to win a ninth nationwide championship. The Wildcats are seeded No. 2 within the East Area have maybe their finest mixture of expertise for the reason that 2012 title workforce led by freshman Anthony Davis.
Kentucky’s backcourt trio options veterans Wheeler and Kellan Grady— each transfers — and freshman TyTy Washington Jr., whereas the frontcourt boasts junior holdover Keion Brooks Jr. and Tshiebwe. All 5 starters common a minimum of 10.0 factors per contest, giving the Wildcats the scoring depth wanted to go deep within the NCAA Match.
However Tsheibwe is the clear-cut anchor.
He’s averaging 17.0 factors and nation-leading 15.1 boards per sport. Tshiebwe has had a double-double in 15 straight video games. He has a season whole of 27 double-doubles — breaking Dan Issel’s Kentucky document of 26 set within the 1969-70 season — and is tied with Utah Valley’s Fardaws Aimaq for essentially the most within the nation.
“The issues that he’s doing hadn’t been completed for 50 years,” Calipari mentioned. He has “completed some good things, I can inform you that. I’m pleased with him.”
So is Tshiebwe’s mom, who he hopes can see him show all the nice issues he’s doing in individual. He’s working to convey Kaya Rosalie stateside in time to see him within the NCAA Match.
What Kaya would see is her 255-pound son enjoying bully ball.
However regardless of his physicality — Tshiebwe has muscled his approach to 58 steals and 53 blocks, each workforce highs — he has fouled out of a sport simply as soon as this season. And that got here throughout Saturday’s Southeastern Convention Match loss to Tennessee.
“Generally I simply can’t imagine what I’m doing as a result of I by no means had a dream of doing every part I’m doing proper now,” Tshiebwe mentioned. “I believe God helps me and I’m so grateful for every part.”
Tshiebwe will seemingly have extra to be glad about as he may haul in a slew of postseason awards.
He has already been named SEC participant of the 12 months by The Related Press and convention coaches, who additionally selected him to the all-defensive workforce. He’s a number one candidate for each nationwide participant of the 12 months honor together with the Naismith and Picket awards, the place he may turn into the latter’s second winner from Kentucky and first since Davis in 2012.
Tshiebwe wasn’t occupied with particular person accolades as he sat out final spring and watched Kentucky stumble to a 9-16 document and miss the NCAA Match. In 2021, he was in search of a reset after a falloff from a promising freshman season during which he led WVU in scoring and rebounding.
Tshiebwe mentioned in a digital information convention final April that he was not pleased in Morgantown and issues weren’t working. His temper grew to become extra upbeat as he regarded ahead to how his sport may flourish at Kentucky.
“He’s so relaxed and so comfy and loves it at Kentucky,” mentioned Rick Mancino, who was Tshiebwe’s coach at Kennedy Catholic Excessive Faculty close to Pittsburgh. “And, he loves the individuals.
“I believe it’s mutual. I imply, he cares about them as a lot as they care about him. And I simply assume he appreciates that.”
Tshiebwe’s enthusiasm clearly has rubbed off on teammates.
“He simply has actually nice vitality,” Washington mentioned, “however like, generally it’s OK to be just a little bit mad. So, I attempt my finest, , to tough him up, attempt to crack jokes on him.
“None of that works. He’s nonetheless going to be Oscar.”
Tshiebwe appreciates the popularity, however mentioned he got here to Lexington with the purpose of profitable a championship. The Wildcats got here up quick within the SEC Match, so now their focus is on the NCAAs. Kentucky opens Thursday night time towards No. 15 seed St. Peter’s (19-11) in Indianapolis.
“The individuals we’re going to go towards, it’s going to be a struggle,” Tshiebwe mentioned. “I’m not saying it’s going to be simple for me; it’s going to be a struggle for each of us.”
Sports
NASCAR driver belly-flops into massive flood on pit road as rain postpones race
A monstrous rainstorm postponed Saturday’s NASCAR truck race, but those on the track still made the most of it.
The storm moved through North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, site of Sunday’s All-Star Open and Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series Wright Brand 250.
Pole qualifying was canceled Saturday morning, but the race started on time, as positioning was set per the rule book. However, lightning in the area brought the red flag out on Lap 81 at roughly 2:30 p.m. ET.
Fans were asked to clear the grandstand and take cover as rain began to fall.
NASCAR then announced at 5:05 p.m. ET the remainder of the race would be postponed until 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday, and heat races for the All-Star Open slated for Saturday were canceled. Positioning for the race will be set based on the rule book.
Rain flooded pit road so badly, it was roughly thigh-high for some on the track.
NASCAR STAR’S DAUGHTER BRINGS RACE-WINNING AMERICAN FLAG TO SCHOOL: I’M SO ‘PROUD’
One person in a video taken by FOX Business senior producer Justin Freiman could be seen swimming and diving in the water.
A few seconds later, a driver did a belly flop.
The weather affected racing Friday night, as well. All-Star Race qualifying and a pit crew challenge at North Wilkesboro Speedway scheduled for Friday night has been postponed due to rain.
NASCAR announced Saturday and Sunday tickets would be honored Sunday with some stipulations.
Saturday ticketholders will receiver “priority seating” for the finish of the truck race, while those who have tickets for Sunday will then get seating for the All-Star Race, in the event of same-seat purchases.
Twenty drivers will participate in the $1 million All-Star Race following the conclusion of the Wright Brand 250.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
Carson wins City softball title on Alana Langford's 14th-inning homer
All night long, Alana Langford was waiting for her pitch.
It finally came with one out in the top of the 14th inning Saturday night in the City Section Open Division softball final and the first baseman did not miss it, working the count full and launching the ball high over the left-field fence for a home run that ultimately gave Carson a 1-0 victory over Granada Hills.
The contest took four hours and two minutes and fans at Long Beach State were treated to one of the best and longest playoff games in City history, lasting four hours and two minutes.
It was the second year in a row that Langford hit a game-winning homer in the championship game, having basted a two-run shot in the top of the eighth inning last spring against the Highlanders.
“I could see their pitcher was getting tired and I told myself when she misses it, I gotta be on it,” Langford said. “This one means so much because I’m a senior and it’s my last time playing with my team. My dad’s our biggest fan, he watches from the outfield and he’s my target!”
Last year’s final ended 12-11, but on Saturday one run was all the Colts needed to defend their title, thanks to a herculean effort by junior pitcher Giselle Pantoja, who allowed only one hit with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in outdueling counterpart Addison Moorman, who struck out 19 batters in a five-hit masterpiece of her own.
It was another heartbreaking loss for Granada Hills (28-3), which entered as the No. 1 seed. The only blemishes on their record were a pair of one-run losses to Southern Section programs Warren and Harvard-Westlake. A year ago, the Highlanders rallied for 10 runs in the sixth inning to even the score. This time they could not manage a single run against Pomale, who anticipated her moment in the circle in the title game.
“In the 12th inning I was pushing past my limits, but I just told my teammates, ‘You got me, I got you!’” Pantoja said. “The last inning I was so tired and they have really tough hitters. I’ve been preparing for this since last season.”
Granada Hills, seeking its first section title since 1981, had two on and two out in the bottom of the 14th when Zoe Justman flied out to Riannah Maulupe and Colts players poured from the dugout to hug their heroic pitcher.
The game’s first hit did not come until the top of the seventh when Langford doubled over the left fielder’s head with one out, but Moorman then induced back-to-back popouts on the infield.
Carson threatened in the top of the ninth when Ruby Grajeda hit a two-out single to right and Langford was hit by a pitch, but Atiana Rodriguez struck out to keep the game scoreless.
In the top of the 12th, Grajeda led off with a bloop single to left and Langford followed with a bunt single. After a strikeout and a fly out, Alyssa Villasenor was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but on a 3-2 count Sandoval struck out looking
In the bottom half of the 12th, Samantha Esparza smacked the ball through the right side and slid into first base ahead of the throw by Carson right fielder Kaleigh Allen for the Highlanders’ first hit and advanced to second on Malia Plourde’s sacrifice bunt, but after Justman struck out, Jeniece Jimenez grounded out.
Carson has won five City titles — all in the upper division.
In the preceding Division I final, top-seeded Garfield (20-5) beat No. 3 Kennedy 5-2 and in the first game of Saturday’s City triple-header No. 1 Chatsworth beat No. 2 Marquez 12-2 in five innings for the Division II title.
Sports
Seize The Grey wins 149th Preakness Stakes; Mystik Dan finishes 2nd
Seize The Grey won the 149th Preakness Stakes Saturday, closing at 9-1 odds, one of the longest shots on the board.
Mystik Dan, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, made a move late, but finished second in the field of eight horses running in the $2 million, 1 3/16-mile race.
It was a wire-to-wire victory for Seize The Grey, who led by several lengths at the ¾-mile mark, with Imagination trailing closely behind.
Mystik Dan and Imagination both crept up, and as much as Mystik Dan tried to maneuver past the leader, nothing worked. Seize The Grey crossed the finish line first.
D. Wayne Lukas, 88, became the oldest trainer to win the Preakness, his seventh victory in the race, one shy of Bob Baffert’s record.
The original favorite, Muth, trained by the controversial Baffert, was scratched earlier this week due to a spiking fever. That led to Mystik Dan becoming the favorite in his quest to be the first Triple Crown winner since Justify in 2018.
Muth opened as the 8-5 favorite, ahead of Mystik Dan at 5-2 (he later closed at 2-1). Baffert said the horse was ruled out after reaching a temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit roughly 12 hours after arriving at the racecourse.
It was unknown for a bit whether Mystik Dan would run after his Kentucky Derby victory, but ownership decided he was good to go.
No one in the race’s 149-year history has saddled more horses in the Preakness than Lukas with 48 since debuting in 1980. He had two this time, with Just Steel finishing fifth.
Baffert was at Pimlico after missing his third straight Kentucky Derby due to suspension. He is slated to be back at Churchill Downs in 2025. His National Treasure won last year’s Preakness.
The final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will take place at Saratoga Race Course June 8.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.
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