If you turned off the radio right after the final buzzer, you missed some good stuff from Otega Oweh. After dropping 21 points and helping seal the win, Oweh hopped on the post-game show with Goose Givens to break down exactly how Kentucky pulled off that comeback.
Here is what the star guard had to say.
The no quit mentality
Goose asked him about the fight this team showed, especially after getting punched in the mouth early. Oweh didn't hesitate to explain that it is experience in being down, giving them the confidence they need.
"Yes, sir, we have been through it all this season… Just know we are never going to give up."
We saw that tonight. Down 14? Didn't matter. They just kept chipping away a little at a time. They never thought they were out of the game because they weren't.
What changed for Kentucky basketball at halftime
Tennessee was bullying Kentucky in the first half. They had 8 threes and were killing the Cats on the glass. Oweh said the halftime message was simple: match their physicality.
"They are really good at offensive rebounding… Just limit their second chance points… stay poised on the offensive end."
It wasn't perfect in the second half: Tennessee still got its rebounds, but the poise on offense was the difference maker down the stretch. And let me be frank for a minute with the Tennessee rebounding, I have never seen so many missed calls on two-hand shoves than when the Vols attack the offensive glass. It was nearly every play.
Right now Oweh's "blessing" looks like a curse to opposing teams.
Taking the challenge on defense
Oweh spent a lot of time matched up with Nate Ament, who was torching everyone. Oweh takes that stuff personally.
"I try to be the best two-way player I can be… It's a blessing for me to go out there and match up with the other team's best player."
He is walking the walk right now. He wants the smoke as a two-way player. If Kentucky is going to do anything remotely special this season, Oweh will need to be the best player on the defensive end every night.
The game winning assist
Goose asked about the biggest play of the night, the drive and kick to Collin Chandler. Was that designed?
Oweh said Mark Pope gave him some simple advice that made it happen.
"Coach Pope said something really big for me. Every time I am aggressive and getting two feet in the paint, something good happens… I was just being aggressive and trying to get to the paint… Luckily, Collin was open."
Two feet in the paint. Collapse the defense. Find the shooter. Textbook. Captain Clutch did it again.
The week off
Kentucky doesn't play again until next Saturday at Florida. That is a long gap in February, but Oweh says they need it.
"We got to take a couple days off, but we still got to be locked in mentally… I think it's going to be a really good week for us to build on our habits… It's definitely well needed."
Rest up, Cats. You earned it.