Oscar Tshiebwe's dominance lifts Kentucky basketball past Yale: 3 takeaways

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Yale represented a middle ground in terms of Kentucky men's basketball opponents nine games into the Wildcats' season.

No, the Bulldogs weren't on the level of Gonzaga, Michigan or Michigan State. But they certainly were a cut above Bellarmine, Howard, Duquesne, South Carolina State and North Florida. Yale made the NCAA Tournament last season, and even after losing a pair of All-Ivy League performers in Azar Swain and Jalen Gabbidon, the Bulldogs still were one of three co-favorites (along with Penn and Princeton) to win the conference in 2022-23.

And just before Saturday's tipoff at Rupp Arena, the Bulldogs announced their best player and leading scorer, Matthew Dowling, would sit out because of an injury.

Sounds like the pieces were in place for an easy Kentucky win, right? (And one that would help come March given Yale's potential to make the NCAA Tournament itself.)

The 16th-ranked Wildcats won. But it wasn't drama free.

The 69-59 final score, a UK victory, is misleading. Yale pushed Kentucky for more than 30 minutes of game time before the Wildcats finally asserted themselves — mainly because of Oscar Tshiebwe.

Kentucky basketball recruiting: These players are part of the Wildcats' 2023 class

Kentucky (7-2) led by six, 33-27, at the break. But Yale (8-3) quickly hit a pair of 3-pointers to tie the contest and induce a timeout from John Calipari with 18:34 to play. In the final portion of the second half, the hosts finally upped their level of play.

Which, obviously, pleased Calipari.

"When we figured out we could throw it inside, it gave us a gap and some space. I liked how we finished the game off," he said. "We did some different things. ... The execution of what we were doing was pretty good."

Tshiebwe collected another double-double, topping all players Saturday in both points (28) and rebounds (12). It marked a season-high point total for Tshiebwe, and were the most he's had in a single game since scoring 30 in the NCAA Tournament loss to Saint Peter's.

"We have an advantage, and the kid's name is Oscar Tshiebwe," Calipari said. "You've got to throw it to him. If you're driving and he's open, don't shoot it. Throw it to him."

Jack Molloy had 14 off the bench to pace the Bulldogs.

UK has a week off until it takes the court again, facing No. 19 UCLA at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 17 in a game that is part of the CBS Sports Classic.

Here are three takeaways from Kentucky's close win:

Women's basketball:Louisville dominates rivalry with Kentucky in recent years

Tshiebwe comes alive in second half, saves Wildcats' bacon

The Bulldogs showed no signs of dropoff despite missing Dowling and his team-leading 16.2 points per game. They had crisp ball movement, and used a stellar effort from Malloy, a reserve forward, to give UK fits.

The Wildcats needed a spark of their own in the second half.

That's where it helps to have the reigning national player of the year.

Tshiebwe dominated the final 20 minutes, scoring 22 of his points after halftime. The rest of the Wildcats combined for 14 second-half points. Tshiebwe's efforts lifted Kentucky to a decisive 40-18 advantage in points in the paint.

Calipari said the difference in the two halves for Tshiebwe was in the opening 20 minutes he didn't demand the ball offensively.

"In other words, (I told him), 'You're ducking and you're open. You have to say something,'" Calipari said. "We have a term we use. You can say, 'One more, one more.’ If that guy hears it, he will throw it to you."

The Wildcats did that time and again in Saturday's second half.

Of course, Tshiebwe can't be expected to bail out UK of every tight situation going forward.

But he was up to the task Saturday.

Reunion:Liam Coen returning to Kentucky as offensive coordinator

Kentucky's 3-point shooting absent

The Wildcats entered shooting 39.3% from deep this season. They got off to a hot start Saturday, making four of their first five shots from distance. But they ended missing their last six attempts.

Curiously, 3-point marksman CJ Fredrick didn't take a single shot from beyond the arc in nine minutes of play. And he only took two shots overall. It was unclear during the game the reason. Afterward, Calipari explained that he wanted to put Fredrick on the floor at the same time as fellow senior guard Antonio Reeves. But after multiple defensive breakdowns by Reeves, Fredrick went in.

And when he did, he didn't shoot.

"I haven't lost any confidence in him," Calipari said. "Again, if someone's playing better, then they're going to play more. When I put him in the second time, I said, ‘Look, kid, just shoot the ball. If you're free, let it go.’"

UK needs to get Fredrick going. When he's on, he's the best deep threat the Wildcats have.

How does it rank:Will UK basketball's 2023 class be one of Calipari's best in Lexington?

Freshman pair trying to make most of limited opportunities

Freshmen forwards Chris Livingston and Ugonna Onyenso have been two of the more pleasant surprises for UK in the early portion of the season.

They're playing limited minutes right now, however. So they have to make the most of their time on the court.

Livingston went 3-for-5 from the field for seven points. He also dished out a pair of assists. He played 14 minutes. The reason he didn't play more, Calipari said, was a defensive lapse.

"The best shooter in the court, he left him, and they made a 3," Calipari said. "I said, 'I don't care about you missing shots, but this game is too close to have you not realize you're not leaving that guy.' I said, ‘You're fine, but we're trying to win the game.’"

Onyenso played even less than Livingston, only taking the floor for two minutes. In that time, he made his only shot and pulled down an offensive rebound.

A lack of aggression glued Onyenso to the bench Saturday. After the Bulldogs ripped the ball away from Onyenso on more than one occasion, Calipari had seen enough.

"Ugonna kind of got pushed around," Calipari said. "I was surprised, to be honest with you, but he did."

The path to more playing time, for both, is straightforward.

"I said to these guys, 'You're going to get minutes and you're going to get offensive opportunities. What are you going to do with them?'" Calipari said. "How do you keep building your confidence? We're just going to keep on this path."

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @RyanABlack

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball beats Yale: 3 takeaways, Oscar Tshiebwe's big game