Oscar Tshiebwe

Reigning National Player of the Year Oscar Tshiebwe will reportedly make his season debut for Kentucky against Michigan State on Tuesday.

Per Jeff Goodman of Stadium, it has not been determined whether Tshiebwe will start or come off the bench as he continues to recover from a procedure on his right knee.

Wildcats coach John Calipari told reporters Monday that Tshiebwe would play if he made it through practice without swelling:

"He's supposed to practice today so we'll have a better idea. He's been doing the conditioning stuff, he just hasn't been on that court and that's totally different. My guess will be he plays three or four minutes at a stretch if he plays.

"He's going to have to get through [practice] and make sure there's no swelling. From what I'm hearing he doesn't have the lift yet but knowing him, he wants to play but I can't tell you right now."

It would seem Tshiebwe made it through Monday's session well enough to get some playing time, though it's unlikely he's on the floor for 30-plus minutes. No. 4 Kentucky has gotten off to a 2-0 start to the 2022-23 campaign with wins over Howard and Duquesne by a combined 57 points.

Kentucky plays Michigan State on Tuesday as part of the State Farm Champions Classic in Indianapolis. The unranked Spartans are 1-1 to start the season and lost by one point to second-ranked Gonzaga.

Tshiebwe averaged 17.4 points and 15.1 rebounds last season on his way to sweeping National Player of the Year awards and becoming a consensus first-team All-America selection. His presence will help fortify the middle of Kentucky's defense, which has been anchored by senior Jacob Toppin.

Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe said he "absolutely" plans to be ready for the team's first game against Howard on Nov. 7, according to Gary B. Graves of the Associated Press.

The reigning AP Player of the Year underwent a "minor" procedure on his knee this month, as head coach John Calipari explained on Twitter. Despite the issue, Tshiebwe doesn't expect to miss any regular-season action.

"To be honest, I don't think I will miss games other than exhibition games because it's not really necessary that I get this done," he said.

Tshiebwe is coming off a breakout season for the Wildcats after transferring from West Virginia.

The 6'9" forward averaged 17.4 points, 15.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game in 2021-22, winning the Naismith Award as the top player in college basketball. He helped Kentucky earn a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, although the squad was shockingly upset in the first round by Saint Peter's.

Despite interest from the NBA, Tshiebwe returned to school and enters as a unanimous preseason All-American with higher expectations going into 2022-23.

"He's a better passer. He's a better dribbler. He has a better feel. He talks," Calipari said, per the AP's John Marshall. "Offensively he knows the plays better. And he's authentic."

There will be a lot of eyes on Tshiebwe this season with Kentucky entering No. 4 in the preseason AP poll.

Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe and Gonzaga's Drew Timme highlight the 2022-23 Associated Press preseason All-America team in men's college basketball.

Both big men were unanimous selections on the first team, which also includes North Carolina forward Armando Bacot, Houston guard Marcus Sasser and Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Tshiebwe won the Naismith Award as the best player in college basketball last season after averaging 17.4 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. He is the first AP National Player of the Year to return to school the following season since Tyler Hansbrough in 2009.

Hansbrough didn't win a second player of the year award, but he did lead North Carolina to a national championship as a senior.

Tshiebwe will hope for similar success with the Wildcats, who enter as the No. 4 team in the preseason AP poll despite a shocking first-round exit in the NCAA tournament last season. Further improvements from their star player could be the difference in the upcoming season.

"He's a better passer. He's a better dribbler. He has a better feel. He talks," Kentucky coach John Calipari said of Tshiebwe. "Offensively, he knows the plays better. And he's authentic."

North Carolina is the top team in the preseason poll thanks to the return of Bacot, who averaged 16.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game last season. The forward had six straight double-doubles during the Tar Heels' run to the NCAA title game, averaging 16.5 rebounds during the tournament.

With RJ Davis, Leaky Black and Caleb Love also set to return, North Carolina should be a tough team to beat in 2022-23.

Timme is looking for more team success after earning second-team All-America honors in the last two years. The senior averaged 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season, helping Gonzaga earn the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament for the second straight year.

But a Sweet 16 loss to Arkansas leaves Timme searching for more going into this season.

Sasser missed all but 12 games last season with a toe injury that ended his season in December, but he created high expectations after averaging 17.7 points per game in his limited playing time. Houston went to the Elite Eight without him, but the team could be even scarier this season.

Jackson-Davis was overshadowed by the three Big Ten players who made the All-America First Team last year: Johnny Davis, Kofi Cockburn and Keegan Murray. The Indiana forward won't sneak up on anyone, though, after averaging 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game last season.