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A lot can happen in two seconds. It’s a lifetime in a basketball game.
With the time running out between Kentucky and Santa Clara, Broncos’ Allen Graves knocked down a three-pointer. Only two seconds left on the clock.
The Enterprise Center erupted, with cheers from the Broncos fans. It looked like the 10 seed would upset the 7 seed Kentucky.
The Cats inbound the ball, getting it to Otega Oweh. The guard makes it past half court, heaves up the ball, with a prayer attached.
“It was kind of moving in slow motion,” said freshman Malachi Moreno.
“I thought he took too many dribbles. I was like, shoot it before the buzzer goes off,” said Collin Chandler.
“I always have faith, you know, into the buzzer hands, because we've been falling through adversity all season long,” said freshman Jasper Johnson
And it’s answered.
Oweh’s shot hits off the backboard and in. The guard kept Kentucky’s tournament dreams alive. Oweh’s three-pointer ties up the game and sends the first round matchup into overtime.
“When I shot it, I was like, it's a little left,” Oweh remembered. “But, you know, it was a good I got it high. I knew it would kind of go off the backboard.”
The Broncos fans, in the midst of the thrill of victory, felt the agony of defeat in a moment.
It was the type of play that can only happen this time of year.
“It's March, anything's possible in March. I watched too many YouTube buzzer-beater videos, and I knew that this moment wasn't gonna be like that,” said Kam Williams.
Kentucky was back in this one.
“We had the momentum. That's, that's how we felt. We were just like, we just got to go win this game. Find a way to win. That's, that's what we've had to do all season. Find a way to win. And we found a way,” said Chandler.
In overtime, Kentucky was able to secure the win, beating Santa Clara 89-84.
Oweh’s performance was Herculean for the Cats. He led the team in the major categories, finishing with 35 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
“Sometimes Otega sneaks up on you. It's really true, which is crazy to say at almost a triple-double, 35 points. It's crazy to think that he snuck up on us a little bit. But he's proven. I've been really blessed to have a chance to coach him,” said Head Coach Mark Pope after the game.
Before the NCAA Tournament, the entire Kentucky team talked about how Oweh was stepping up as a leader. Against Santa Clara, he quite literally put the team on his back with his performance.
“It goes to show that he's not he doesn't want to go home. It's win or go home every game, and he's not ready to go, so and neither is anyone of us. And the way he played today just shows the leadership and just shows the no quit and the drive he has for this game,” said Moreno.
“You say the shot was crazy, but take away the shot. He still had an amazing game. You know, I think he led us in rebounds, assists, and points. So having a leader definitely makes everyone play harder,” Williams added.
Kentucky was down to Santa Clara at halftime. In the 2nd half, Oweh scored 22 of his 35 points.
“We did a good job of just never breaking, you know, we got a second chance. You know, me making a shot and going into overtime. You know, that's what we were saying in the huddle. You know, we got a second chance. You don't get a lot of those in March, so we got to capitalize. And you know, really, you know, really capitalize,” Oweh said about his performance.
It’s solidified in the record books. Oweh passed Bill Spivey for the most points by a UK player in their first two years with the program.
“It's a testament to the guys that are around me. That wouldn't have happened without them. They get me open. Just having the utmost energy for me and happy whenever I succeed,” said Oweh about the accomplishment.
“He shows up every single game in only a unique Otega Oweh way. It's just brilliant,” added his coach.
Otega Oweh now has 1,237 career points as a Cat.
Kentucky will move on to play #2 Seed Iowa State on Sunday.
Continue reading...
With the time running out between Kentucky and Santa Clara, Broncos’ Allen Graves knocked down a three-pointer. Only two seconds left on the clock.
The Enterprise Center erupted, with cheers from the Broncos fans. It looked like the 10 seed would upset the 7 seed Kentucky.
The Cats inbound the ball, getting it to Otega Oweh. The guard makes it past half court, heaves up the ball, with a prayer attached.
“It was kind of moving in slow motion,” said freshman Malachi Moreno.
“I thought he took too many dribbles. I was like, shoot it before the buzzer goes off,” said Collin Chandler.
“I always have faith, you know, into the buzzer hands, because we've been falling through adversity all season long,” said freshman Jasper Johnson
And it’s answered.
Oweh’s shot hits off the backboard and in. The guard kept Kentucky’s tournament dreams alive. Oweh’s three-pointer ties up the game and sends the first round matchup into overtime.
“When I shot it, I was like, it's a little left,” Oweh remembered. “But, you know, it was a good I got it high. I knew it would kind of go off the backboard.”
The Broncos fans, in the midst of the thrill of victory, felt the agony of defeat in a moment.
It was the type of play that can only happen this time of year.
“It's March, anything's possible in March. I watched too many YouTube buzzer-beater videos, and I knew that this moment wasn't gonna be like that,” said Kam Williams.
Kentucky was back in this one.
“We had the momentum. That's, that's how we felt. We were just like, we just got to go win this game. Find a way to win. That's, that's what we've had to do all season. Find a way to win. And we found a way,” said Chandler.
In overtime, Kentucky was able to secure the win, beating Santa Clara 89-84.
Oweh’s performance was Herculean for the Cats. He led the team in the major categories, finishing with 35 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
“Sometimes Otega sneaks up on you. It's really true, which is crazy to say at almost a triple-double, 35 points. It's crazy to think that he snuck up on us a little bit. But he's proven. I've been really blessed to have a chance to coach him,” said Head Coach Mark Pope after the game.
Before the NCAA Tournament, the entire Kentucky team talked about how Oweh was stepping up as a leader. Against Santa Clara, he quite literally put the team on his back with his performance.
“It goes to show that he's not he doesn't want to go home. It's win or go home every game, and he's not ready to go, so and neither is anyone of us. And the way he played today just shows the leadership and just shows the no quit and the drive he has for this game,” said Moreno.
“You say the shot was crazy, but take away the shot. He still had an amazing game. You know, I think he led us in rebounds, assists, and points. So having a leader definitely makes everyone play harder,” Williams added.
Kentucky was down to Santa Clara at halftime. In the 2nd half, Oweh scored 22 of his 35 points.
“We did a good job of just never breaking, you know, we got a second chance. You know, me making a shot and going into overtime. You know, that's what we were saying in the huddle. You know, we got a second chance. You don't get a lot of those in March, so we got to capitalize. And you know, really, you know, really capitalize,” Oweh said about his performance.
It’s solidified in the record books. Oweh passed Bill Spivey for the most points by a UK player in their first two years with the program.
“It's a testament to the guys that are around me. That wouldn't have happened without them. They get me open. Just having the utmost energy for me and happy whenever I succeed,” said Oweh about the accomplishment.
“He shows up every single game in only a unique Otega Oweh way. It's just brilliant,” added his coach.
Otega Oweh now has 1,237 career points as a Cat.
Kentucky will move on to play #2 Seed Iowa State on Sunday.
Continue reading...
