Otega Oweh's Next Play Mentality Propels Kentucky to Nail-Biting Victory

Emotions exploded throughout Bridgestone Arena. Big Blue Nation went from degradation to jubilation in a matter of moments, all thanks to Otega Oweh. You could feel it when the Kentucky shooting guard and head coach Mark Pope spoke on the SEC Network set in front of hundreds of rowdy fans after the 85-84 win over Oklahoma.

Kentucky led by six points with 41 seconds to play. All the Cats had to do was take care of the basketball and hit their free throws. They did not do the former.

Three Kentucky turnovers turned into a 7-0 Oklahoma run. Oweh had two of those turnovers, and was guarding Jeremiah Fears when the Oklahoma freshman hit the go-ahead bucket with under six seconds to play. That’s when Oweh did it this.

He is that guy. pic.twitter.com/udh9bOEFTY

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) March 14, 2025

“I had two turnovers. I don’t know why it had to play out like that, but Coach always preaches next play mentality. That’s how I was thinking,” Oweh told the SEC Network crew.

“Obviously, it was a bummer to turn it over, but there’s still time on the clock. It was a play to get downhill and a good thing happened.”

It was a very good thing indeed.

Mark Pope was beaming with pride on the stage in front of Big Blue Nation. It wasn’t just because his team got the win. They had to grit and grind without Lamont Butler, who left the game midway through the first half with an injury.

“I’m so proud of our guys. We had a little bit of adversity tonight, some unfortunate stuff, and the guys responded unbelievably well in the second half,” said Pope.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Otega. Otega’s a microcosm of our whole team, in the sense that we’re just going to keep battling, battling, battling. If you’re going to beat us, you’re gonna have to kill us.

“Otega’s growth in his next play mentality from the start of this season to what he’s just done in the last few weeks is incredible. There’s not a lot of human beings walking on the planet, actually can go through those two plays and have that same play. It’s just credit to his character, man, and the character of our team. I’m really proud of these guys.”

Kentucky basketball fans have endured painful postseason losses in recent years. Oweh exorcised those demons and injected so much joy into Big Blue Nation.

“It’s a fact. There is no fan base like this in the world,” said Pope. “Otega gets to wear this across his chest, and then I get to wear it on my chest, and then we get to be a part of this family. There’s nothing like it. You can’t understand it until you’ve lived it.”