Otega Oweh’s historic chase is over.
The Kentucky sophomore had scored in double figures in all 26 games this season at Kentucky before going just 1-for-9 from the field at Alabama in Saturday’s 96-83 loss and finished with only two points.
Going into the game, he was one of only 10 NCAA Division I men’s basketball players who had scored at least 10 points in every game their team had played this season. He was one of just three high-major players to have scored in double figures every game this season and the only Southeastern Conference player to have done so.
Oweh is Kentucky’s leading scorer at 15.7 points per game even after the two-point outing against No. 4 Alabama. He has led UK in scoring 10 times, including a 20-point outing at Texas a week earlier.
He was the first UK player to have scored in double figures in 25 straight games since Malik Monk scored in 30 straight games during the 2016-17 season. Jamal Murray scored in double figures in 34 straight games for Kentucky the season before. Kenny Walker scored in double figures in 36 straight games during his final season at UK in 1985-86.
Oweh was chasing those marks and hoping to be the first player to score in double figures every game during a season since Rex Chapman in 1987-88. Walker did it for two straight seasons — 1984-85 and 1985-86. The only other UK players ever to accomplish that feat were Kevin Grevey (1974-75), Dan Issel (1968-69 and 1969-70) and Vernon Hatton (1957-58).
Kentucky coach Mark Pope said a combination of things led to Oweh’s low-scoring game before he fouled out with 6 1/2 minutes to play.
“Alabama is a good team. We are paying on the road. Otega has been the most consistent player in college basketball,” Pope said. “It was a combination of him making mistakes he doesn’t normally make and Alabama guarding him well.”
Former UK All-American Jack Givens noted on the UK Radio Network that if Oweh had his normal scoring output, UK might have won. But he also understood the attention Alabama put on him.
“They put a strong guy on him and not a lot of teams do that,” Givens said. “They put a physical guy on him and also ran another big at him when he got close to the basket to challenge him.
“He just wasn’t able to get himself going, especially when the officials let them play that physically. But It was his only off-game this season. It happens.”
10 Responses
“He just wasn’t able to get himself going, especially when the officials let them play that physically.“
especially when the officials let them play that physically
The SEC Thug system pushed & endorsed by the SEC Admin cronies, executed by the biased refs Is an impossible challenge for a team playing real BB.
Street ball inside an arena is still street ball. I’ve played some street ball and the SEC is beyond sensible.
Ultimately, the ref chooses when to call and when not to call fouls.
I’ve personally witnessed games on the road as well as historic Memorial Coliseum & Rupp Arena, when UK could not beat 7 (& eventually 8) because it was too lopsided.
“Physical play” needs to be kept clean by calling fouls when it’s obvious “, regardless which team does it.
UK had 13 steals! That is impressive and would be the difference maker in most games, but not for UK on the road in the SEC.
Oweh has better games when the rest of the team plays Pope ball. That opens the lane for his game. Focus on beating the Sooners now. Go CATS!!!
You nailed it!
When ANY players go solo, it instantly stops Pope Ball & breaks down the entire team chemistry.
I’m not making no excuses ,but I thought the refs made sure Owen didn’t have no part of the game from the get go.
I agree.. some questionable calls.. but i don’t think enough to turn the tide
Absolutely!
It only takes a few crooked calls at select times in a game against or for specific players to completely change the final score.
Momentum & other key factors can be quickly affected by a crooked whistle.
I don’t like to use the whistle as an excuse, but there are times it’s just too obvious. It happens more frequently in any league sport which turns their head instead of making accountability a useful tool.
UK had a Fast start @ 16-9:
Carr 8 pts
Perry a 3
UK was passing the ball
UK started the game:
4:1 A:TO
5:1 (A+St):TO
To measure the TEAM PLAY of each player (& Team Total), I always look at:
(Assists + Steals + Blocks):TO
This stat values steals & blocks the same as an Assist
At 30-18, UK had proven that 100% Coach Pope TEAM 1st Ball can beat any team.
Then selfish play – reverting back to how mediocre players typically play in the “minor leagues” took over.
That’s when ALA went on a 4-24 run to shatter the mental attitude that UK players had when the game started – that UK will win.
There are times when Assists do not reveal true team play. A great pass to an open shooter who misses the 3 or blows a layup is a “silent” assist with 0 in the stat sheet.
Why do college players miss so many layups??? Because they “practice” street ball since youth and never develop the skills to MAKE layups with basic principles applied. Their entire career was spent shooting hot dog crazy shots around the basket instead of developing a skill to score.
Very few players have the ability, control, skill level to be “fancy” with the ball AND score efficiently. The great Pistol Pete Maravich (who I saw live in Memorial Coliseum) 3 years in a row, was one of the few. That was when players could not palm the ball, carry it like a football for a few steps and other such nonsense that is “allowed” today. The Big “O” (Oscar Robertson) wqs one of the few others who could do it within the real rules of BB.
The SEC must have the most inconsistent officiating in the country. Holding Oweh to 2 points (emphasis on holding) is unimaginable evens from my vantage point.
Definitely agree!