Otega Oweh Shines Brightly in Wildcats’ Dramatic Victory

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Otega Oweh, the standout of the Kentucky Wildcats, delivered a stunning performance during the 2025 SEC Tournament, leading his team to an exhilarating 85-84 victory over Oklahoma. His game-winning layup, executed in mere seconds, could shape both his future and that of the Wildcats.

Head Coach Mark Pope, reflecting on the pivotal moment, emphasized the importance of the entire game, rather than just the final play. “If I just talk about the last play, you lose the greatness of the moment,” Pope stated. “Otega turned it over two times in a row in the last minute, blowing a 10-point lead, which I’m responsible for, he’s responsible for, everybody is responsible for.” The Wildcats faced a difficult stretch, relinquishing a 10-point lead, but Oweh’s late heroics salvaged the day.

As the clock wound down to 5.6 seconds left and Kentucky trailing by one, Pope called a timeout, looking to Oweh for a last-minute play. The coach described the situation: “We felt like we could get downhill pretty quickly. Let’s bum-rush to the rim and see what develops. Otega made a great play.” Oweh executed a twisting left-handed layup that left fans on the edge of their seats.

“I saw a little gap to get a shot off. I mean, I shot it to try to make it. Kind of felt good,” Oweh shared, recalling the last-second shot that sealed the game. His performance, with 27 points, added to his already impressive season average of 16.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.

Oweh’s improvement has been evident this season as he shot 48.9% from the field and made significant strides at the free-throw line, hitting 78.2% compared to last year’s 64.3%. This enhancement could be crucial for his aspirations of playing in the NBA, as he contemplates whether to return to Kentucky for another season.

Should Oweh choose to come back, he could be in contention for SEC Player of the Year, with many top competitors graduating this season. “Many of the best players in the conference will be done eligibility-wise after this season, which would give Oweh a clear path if he did return to Kentucky,” remarked Andrew Stefaniak, publisher of Kentucky Wildcats On SI.

Coaches and teammates alike have noticed Oweh’s growth on the court. “It felt great,” he said with a smile, reflecting on his victorious layup. Oklahoma Coach Porter Moser recognized the challenge Oweh posed, saying, “He puts his head down. He’s as fast and powerful as anyone in the country.”

Remarkably, this is not the first time Oweh has led Kentucky past Oklahoma; earlier in the season, he scored the Wildcats’ final 18 points in a nail-biting 83-82 victory against the Sooners, showcasing his clutch performance. Teammate Brea described the moment: “It felt like we were in a movie going through it. This time it felt like he has a part two, creating a sequel. Otega Oweh, special, special player. It’s unbelievable what he just did out there.”