Saturday Headlines: Otega Oweh saves UK and James Madison Gameday
What a game.
Good morning, BBN! It was a wild Friday filled with plenty of emotions for this fanbase. From excitement to dread, all the way to pure shock, the Kentucky Wildcats gave the country the game of the NCAA Tournament to this point with their overtime win over Santa Clara.
And it is all thanks to Otega Oweh. Finishing with 35 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, Oweh was a superstar in the Round of 64. However, no shot was bigger than the half-court heave to tie the game at 73.
You can say a lot about that shot, but one thing is pretty clear: He saved this program from an offseason of deafening negativity. Now, although negativity has still been earned after this year, the Cats were potentially facing a first-round exit for the third time in six tournaments. That’s not the gold standard, but thanks to Oweh, it did not come to pass.
The shot will be played for generations of Kentucky fans now, and will be a highlight we might see make its rounds every March. Now, let’s hope he can help propel this team to another Sweet 16 berth with a win over Iowa State on Saturday. Elsewhere, the women’s basketball team will take on James Madison today to tip off what hopes to be an extended NCAA Tournament run.