Otega Oweh started the season being named the preseason SEC Player of the Year. His slow start limited that talk, but his recent rise has his name back in contention. Even if he doesn't win that one, there is another award he should.
Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. And right now, there isn't a better defender in the Southeastern Conference than Otega Oweh.
While the headlines often focus on point totals or three-point shooting, Oweh has quietly put together a resume that screams SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Otega Oweh could be defensive player of the year too
You don't need a spreadsheet to see Oweh's impact. Just watch the games. Against Ole Miss, he was the primary reason the Rebels’ guards couldn't get comfortable. He navigates screens like the veteran he is, has the strength to bang in the post with wings, and the lateral quickness to stay in front of elite guards in the SEC.
He is Mark Pope’s "Eraser." When an opposing player gets hot, Oweh gets the assignment.
That all came to a halt against Vandy, he still finished with 20 points and 3 steals, and one terrible play.
The numbers speak for themselves
The stats back up the eye test.
- Steals: Oweh is right there among the league's best, coming in at 4th in the conference with 1.9 steals per game during the season, but in the conference has upped that to 2.14.
- Deflections: Not every steal gets counted, but the coaches count the deflections, and Oweh gets a lot of them with his anticipation. It also means he can get beat backdoor at times, but that has been less of an issue as the season has gone on.
- The "Stop" Rate: According to advanced metrics over at EvanMiya, Oweh is 54th in the country in DBPR, which means he brings quite a bit to the defensive side when he is on the floor. He leads Kentucky in that category.
The award often goes to a shot-blocking big man, but in a league dominated by guard play this year, the value of a lockdown perimeter defender is at an all-time high.
With Kentucky surging in the standings and the defense becoming their calling card, the best player on that defense deserves the hardware. Otega Oweh isn't just a part of the system; he is the system.