Kentucky Basketball guard Otega Oweh didn’t have the prettiest day statistically in Knoxville, but he delivered when it mattered most.
Oweh finished with 12 points on 3/11 shooting and 1-for-5 from three, adding two rebounds, two steals, one block, and one assist. The numbers weren’t flashy, but his impact was undeniable in the final minute.
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With 34.3 seconds left, Collin Chandler came up with a massive steal, dished it ahead to Oweh, and Oweh calmly laid it in to give Kentucky its first lead of the game, 78-77. The Wildcats never trailed again, escaping with an 80-78 road win.
Oweh continues to be clutch, fearless, and willing to attack when Kentucky needed a bucket most. However, the free-throw line continues to be a concern.
Oweh went 5/9 at the stripe against Tennessee. With 50.3 seconds left, he had a chance to tie the game but missed the first free throw, making only the second to pull Kentucky within one at 77-76. He also missed a free throw on his and-1 score to put the Cats up in the final minute, but that miss was thankfully rebounded by Mo Dioubate. That ultimately led to Denzel Aberdeen hitting a tough floater to put Kentucky up 80-77 when they otherwise could have just led 78-77 following Oweh’s miss.
It wasn’t the first time this season that late free throws have added drama. Against LSU, Oweh made the first of two to potentially complete an 18-point comeback, but missed the second. Kentucky was saved when LSU missed both of its free throws, setting up the famous Collin Chandler-to-Malachi Moreno game-winner.
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Oweh also missed a free throw in the final minutes vs. North Carolina that would have tied the game at 61-all, and the Cats would eventually lose 67-64.
For the season, Oweh is still solid at the line, shooting 71/96 (74%). Before Tennessee, he was at 75.9%. Those numbers are respectable, but in tight games, every miss is magnified.
Oweh proved in Knoxville that he’s not afraid of the moment. Now, the next step is making sure those moments at the free-throw line are just as automatic as his game-winning layups.
