Alabama Basketball: 3 keys to pulling off upset win over Kentucky Wildcats

Try to Slow Down Oscar Tshiebwe

Oscar Tshiebwe has proven to be one of the best players in college basketball this season as he leads the nation in rebounds per game with 15.2, and he also leads the Wildcats with 16.1 points per game, 1.8 steals per game, and 1.5 blocks per game as well.

He has without a doubt been Kentucky’s best player all season, and nobody has figured out a way to stop him as he has had less than 10 rebounds per game only twice this season, against Notre Dame when he had only seven rebounds and Kentucky lost, and against High Point when he had only eight rebounds.

In addition to that, he has had double-digit points in all but four games this season, but in all four games where he had single-digit points, he had at least 10 rebounds, meaning Tshiebwe has had a double-double in all but six games this season.

The point I’m getting at here is that it’s impossible to completely stop Tshiebwe, nobody has been able to do it, and it’s unrealistic to think Alabama will be the first team to do it this season. However, if Alabama wants to beat the Wildcats, the most important thing would be to not allow Tshiebwe to rebound and score at will.

If the Crimson Tide doesn’t constantly have pressure on Tshiebwe, it will be a LONG night as he will have 20 points, and 20 rebounds, and will help the Wildcats leave Coleman Coliseum with a 20 point win.