NCAA Basketball: Early preview of 2022 matchup between Gonzaga and Kentucky
1. Ultimate battle of the big men
When looking at this matchup, eyes will instinctively go to the center position, featuring two of the best players in NCAA Basketball. Oscar Tshiebwe becomes the first National Player of the Year to return to school since Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina) in 2008. After transferring over from West Virginia, he became one of the biggest impact transfers of this century.
The energetic big man (and reigning SEC Player of the Year as well), averaged a whopping 17.4 ppg and 15.2 rpg (led the nation) on 61% shooting from the field. Tshiebwe started out last season with 17 points and 20 rebounds (12 off) against future NBA Draft lottery pick Mark Williams and the Duke Blue Devils, a sign of how dominant a season he was going to have.
The 6’9 center posted numerous records in rebounding, while also scoring 20+ points on 12 occasions, along with a career-high 30 points three times. Tshiebwe becoming an offensive threat, while also blocking 55 shots on the defensive end, makes him arguably the best player in the country.
The reason why I use “arguably” is that a year ago, it was Drew Timme that was viewed as the preseason best player for the 2021-22 campaign. And statistically, he did nothing to change that view. Despite playing with eventual No. 2 overall NBA Draft pick Chet Holmgren, the 6-10 center averaged 18.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg, and 2.8 apg on 59% shooting from the field.
Timme is known as the most skilled player in NCAA Basketball, nearly unstoppable one-on-one in the paint. The WCC Player of the Year has incredible footwork and decision-making skills that make himself and his teammates better. But he can also go off for huge games, including 37 points against Texas, 30 versus BYU, and 25 in the Round of 32 win over Memphis.
These two players have faced off before, in an early December matchup in 2020, Gonzaga won 87-82 in a comeback effort after Jalen Suggs came back from what looked like a season-ending injury. Timme scored 17 points on 7/17 shooting but he did struggle mightily against the size in the first half, before making some key baskets to help the Bulldogs make the comeback. Tshiebwe had 14 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes while playing a secondary role to Derek Culver in the frontcourt. Ironically enough, both players fouled out in the contest.
Hopefully, we get to see these two play for 30+ minutes in this matchup. If one clearly outplays the other in a win, it’ll give the center an upper hand in what will be another Player of the Year battle.