Otega Oweh likes the unselfish play he's found at Kentucky. (UK Athletics Photo)
It was an easy decision for Otega Oweh to transfer from Oklahoma to Kentucky. He considered it a “no-brainer” because of the rich history/tradition at UK.
“I was really intrigued with Kentucky. I want to be a pro. I mean, this is one of the best places in the country to do that,” Oweh said.
He played two years for the Sooners but has had one major adjustment at Kentucky.
“The only adjustment was just the fan base and probably how serious it is with basketball and just Kentucky as a whole. In terms of basketball, I’ve been through it a little bit. I kind of know what to expect. I have my routine that I’m used to,” he said.
He has enjoyed the way coach Mark Pope puts “confidence” into players to do the things he expects them to be able to do this season.
“He just allows the guys to play,” Oweh said. “He gives you confidence and it’s been great being able to practice. You see the whole system that he was bringing to Kentucky.”
Oweh said he did a lot of “research” on his future UK teammates before he arrived on campus but there has been one surprise.
“Just being able to see all the guys be together and just be focused on trying to get better and build that chemistry — that’s something I’ve been surprised with,” Oweh said. “We’re all new. No one on the team was here last year.
“So just being able to see how everyone’s so unselfish — they’re open to building that relationship and that bond on the court and off the court, that’s been the biggest thing, really.”
8 Responses
This will be an interesting year. For 15 years, we had a FRAUD who played his pets. Now we actually have a coach who knows how to coach. I believe Pope is serious about bringing No. 9 to Lexington. In order to do that, he will have to find 5 players who perform best as a team, and then 3 or 4 to support that starting unit. That means 3 to 5 kids won’t see much PT when SEC play gets here. All of these kids are good, so it will come down to synergy and chemistry. An injury or illness could change everything, but short of that these kids will have to accept the roles that the competition matrix doles out for them. Pope is a good guy, but soon it will be time for him to be a good coach. That is when the true character of these kids will become apparent. Some will see their dream come true, some will have to wait. Will any of the 9 upperclassmen be willing to watch a freshman play if that is what makes for the best team? If the answer is YES, then No. 9 is not out of the realm of possibilities for this team. If the answer is NO, then No. 9 will have to wait. That will be Pope’s biggest challenge…getting 12 kids who could start at most any other school to commit to doing what is best for the University of Kentucky. Having this conversation about a coach who comes to Kentucky his first year with only 1 scholarship player is ridiculous, but I think he is up to the challenge. In this NIL, OAD world of "college" basketball, will these kids be able to meet that same challenge? I hope so, but win, lose, or draw Kentucky basketball is in good hands. I see great things coming sooner rather than later, but if the stars and planets align in just the right way, this could be the most special season ever for a Kentucky basketball team. Go CATS!!!
Your can’t teach experience. That’s with anything in life. 7 of our players have already played 4 years of college basketball and have been successful and they have all gotten better every year. I know all of them guys will play most of the minutes. Then Add Oweh and Garrison in the mix that’s 9. Really anything past 9th on the depth chart is a mystery. Chandler is more athletic than Noah and Perry. He was 6’4" in high school and was probably a top 5 dunker in his class. He’s a feisty player he’s very hard though guard and is very good at creating his own shot. Being out of basketball for 2 years he will have a lot of catching up to do. He looks much bigger now. He was a twig and 6’4" and now he’s 6’6" and more filled out. I’ve been saying and it and I will say it until proved otherwise. He will be the best freshman on the team. He was coming out of high school the highest ranked out of the 3 and he’s almost 21 years old. I think the trio of freshman we have this year win w championship before their 4 years are up. I don’t know if it’s this year. We have as good a chance as anybody else this year. But typically teams play better when they play multiple years together. It doesn’t happen overnight in most cases. If be happy with 25+ wins and making it past the sweet 16 in his first year. This will be the worst team that Mark Pope will have at Kentucky. He arrived late and he still pulled off an incredible team. There are few teams that look better than us on paper this year and he had 2 months to do all of this he will succeed here because he’s a tireless worker. When Chandler Noah and Perry are juniors and if they stay here long enough they will be one of the best front courts in college basketball. This year is the last year of the 5th year seniors. I’m so happy we took advantage of this in it’s last year. All the players who came in 2020 is coming to a end this year. So most of our team would be playing professionally overseas. I think a extra year in sports has helped programs pass up the typical powerhouses. Think about the football team if they didn’t get that extra year.
IF Pope succeeds this year, I would expect 2 or 3 higher-level recruits. And that may hurt compared to this year.
Allow me to explain. I think coach Wants veterans. I would expect him to hit the portal. To plan on it. Leave roster spots open.
If he he’s a fun, dynamic offense–which we expect–and wins a lot of games,, really good transfers will come. A really good senior is usually better at execution and talking and seal offs and such. Maybe not more talented. But maybe more valuable.
Unless we get a version of Len Bias.
3 recruits( plus a developmental recruit) plus our current freshmen plus Oweh makes 8. I would guess that’s about his goal. That leaves 5 transfers. Hopefully 5 good seniors.
At least I hope he wants seniors. I don’t know the man. So your guess is as good as mine
One more thing’ Mark Pope is a born-again Christian. He will impart God’s word and I hope God’s will on these kids. He will make very good men.
Amen
The problem/opportunity will be how to recruit then mesh the “Burger Boys”. Being the sick fan that I am, I worry about that.
I love this team but I really wish the fans would lay off Calipari. I think he did a good job for years. The pandemic set all schools back because of the stupidity of our governor. It’s amazing to me most fans want to blame Calipari the blame needs to fall squarely on the shoulders of Mitch Barnhart. We’re not going to win a title until he goes.
I tend to disagree that next year will be better. Because of the Burger Boys.
Let me explain. IF coach has a fun. dynic offense, and wins a good morning games (which of course we expect), then I expect him to get two or three Burger Boys, plus a developmental recruit. For recruits plus our current freshman plus a possible developmental recruit plus Oweh = 8. Our coach is smart and innovative. That leaves five roster spots for the portal. And if we have that kind of season, we should get 5 high level transfers.
As talented as these freshmen are, seniors are usually much better at talking and reading and making the right plays, sealing off the lane for a driver, etc
Our current freshman may make a leap to help us. But if we don’t get a Lin Bias-type, it’s going to be three freshmen, three sophomores, and Oweh. I don’t expect coach I don’t expect coach to stay with that. I expect he wants seniors.
But I’ve never met him, so your guess is as good as mine.
Another thing about our coach: he is a born-again Christian. He will speak the word of God on occasion to these boys, and hopefully do God’s will with them. He is going to make very fine men.
That’s why I wanted Scott Drew, but I’m more glad we got our coach Pope!
Amen
Excuse the typos. I didn’t proofread my talk-to-text.
Coach Cal did a great job for a while. The last few years were terribly disappointing, but he had a quite successful tenure.
I don’t think he was ever really comfortable playing true Kentucky basketball. He preferred a more deliberate offense and a shorter rotation than a tempo offense required. Watch the 96 semifinal against UMass. The Cats forced him out from his comfort zone. His team responded beautifully, but ultimately, it was Kentucky’s game en route to number 6.
I look for Pope to run far deeper into his bench. I anticipate he’ll dust off a lot of Pitino’s trademarks-trapping press, hellbent for leather out of the gates, overwhelming scoring spurts fueled by position defense, and a deep bench that seems like a cache of varying weapons.