Kentucky’s win over St. John’s didn’t just feel like a confidence boost. It came with hardware for the team's star.
Otega Oweh was named SEC Co-Player of the Week, UK Athletics announced Monday.
Fans and media alike have been on Otega Oweh all season long. Sometimes it was well-deserved. The wing admitted he need to focus on giving 100 percent effort, and that is a troubling admission from your senior leader. But he finally broke through with a nice game despite a low shooting percentage.
Otega Oweh is the engine of the Wildcats' backcourt
Oweh posted 20 points, five rebounds and three steals in the 78-66 win, and the free-throw line told the story: 8-for-9, steady when Kentucky needed someone to stop the wobble.
He didn't shot well from the floor but he looked a lot more aggressive in going to the hole, and he also looked more confident and played with a lot more energy.
This matters for Kentucky for two reasons. One, it’s proof Oweh is rounding into form right when the roster is starting to look more like what Pope imagined. Two, those weekly awards stack perception, and perception is how you creep back into the Top 25 conversation without having to beg for it.
Oweh who was the preseason player of the year in the SEC had yet to live up to they hype so far this season. He is averaging 17 points per game the last 3 and that includes two games, the only two of the season, he reached 20 points.
Kentucky's shooting has been poor, so Oweh's scoring and shooting numbers are crucial for a team that is undergoing a huge identity shift. Mark Pope belived this team was going to be a great shooting team, the numbers suggest he was wrong. No matter, Pope is now switching to a high-low defense first lineup.
Will it work? That will depend on players like Oweh and their ability to score.