Otega Oweh came into the season with a target on his back. Named the SEC Preseason Player of the Year, the expectations were sky-high - and when Kentucky stumbled out of the gate in November and December, the criticism came just as fast as the preseason praise.
But now? Oweh is playing like the guy everyone expected - and maybe even better.
The senior guard has been on a tear lately, scoring 20 or more points in six of Kentucky’s last eight games. That includes a 21-point performance in Wednesday’s comeback win at LSU - a game that showcased not just his scoring ability, but his toughness and leadership.
He’s hit the 20-point mark in all four of Kentucky’s SEC games so far, something no Wildcat has done since Jodie Meeks strung together seven straight 20-point games to open conference play back in 2009. That’s elite company, and Oweh’s consistency is starting to feel just as reliable as Meeks’ flamethrower scoring runs once did.
But it’s not just offense. Oweh’s been a pest on the defensive end too, recording at least one steal in 12 straight games - and multiple steals in 11 of those. That kind of two-way effort is exactly what Kentucky needs, especially during stretches when the rest of the team struggles to find rhythm.
And that’s part of what made his performance at LSU so impressive. The Wildcats were down 18 in the second half, and Oweh - who hadn’t even made it to the morning shootaround due to illness - still found a way to lead the charge. According to head coach Mark Pope, Oweh was “really under the weather” but powered through anyway, delivering yet another clutch performance.
“He couldn’t even make it to shootaround this morning,” Pope said after the game. “He’s been really under the weather and just battled through it tonight.”
That grit showed up in the second half when Kentucky started to find its footing. As the Wildcats began hitting shots from beyond the arc, LSU had to ease off the double teams that had been swarming Oweh. That opened up more one-on-one opportunities - and when Oweh gets those, he’s almost impossible to stop.
“Nobody is going to stop him in one-on-one situations getting to the basket,” UK Radio Network analyst Jack Givens said. “I know Oweh gets a lot of blame when things do not go right, but if no one else around him is doing anything, he has to go against two or three guys and he won’t be as productive. It was nice to see him take over in the second half, but nicer to see more guys get involved on offense and defense.”
That last point is key. Oweh has been Kentucky’s rock all season, scoring in double figures in all 17 games this year and 20 straight dating back to last season. He’s now averaging 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, and has hit double digits in 50 of his 53 career games in a Kentucky uniform.
But as good as he is, he can’t do it alone. That’s why Wednesday’s win - and the way the team rallied around him - felt like more than just another W in the standings.
“There were 15 times in the second half where we could have folded - and more than that in the first,” Pope said. “But they just kept hammering away.
I think Otega’s leadership was great. I think D.A.’s (Denzel Aberdeen’s) leadership was great.”
Kentucky’s comeback was gritty, gutsy, and fueled by a senior who’s playing like the best player in the conference - even when he’s not at 100%. Oweh’s resurgence isn’t just a bright spot in the Wildcats’ season. It might be the heartbeat of a team still figuring out how good it can be.