For the Kentucky Wildcats to advance past the Santa Clara Broncos, it took the greatest game of Otega Oweh's life. Despite Mark Pope doing everything in his power to throw this one away, Oweh would not be denied. Not only did he drain the half-court buzzer-beater at the end of regulation to force overtime, he just did something that has not happened in college basketball since Larry Bird.
Oweh's 35 points eight rebounds, and seven assists have him joining this impressive list of all-timers.
- 1959: Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Bearcats)
- 1965: Bill Bradley (Princeton Tigers)
- 1979: Larry Bird (Indiana State Sycamores)
- 2026: Otega Oweh (Kentucky Wildcats)
Oweh does not know it yet, but he is on the fast track to find himself enshrined in Springfield one day!
35 PTS, 8 REB, 7 AST in a tournament game:
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) March 20, 2026
1959 - Oscar Robertson
1965 - Bill Bradley
1979 - Larry Bird
2026 - OTEGA OWEH
This is outrageous company 🤯🤯🤯
Yes, Bird, Bradley, and Robertson did all this without the advent of the 3-point line. That should not take away from what Oweh just accomplished. In fact, it should augment it. He is always going to be remembered for that unbelievably clutch shot at the end of regulation to force overtime with Santa Clara. These are the moments that March Madness is all about. Could he replicate that on Sunday?
No. 7 Kentucky will face the winner of No. 2 Iowa State vs. No. 15 Tennessee State in the Round of 32.
Otega Oweh will forever have his name attached to that of Larry Legend
Sit back for a second and let this cascade over you... Oweh's name is now listed alongside three Basketball Hall of Famers who had unforgettable careers in the NBA, and are the greatest players in program history at their respective alma maters. That is not to say Oweh is going to be that at a traditional power like Kentucky, but more power to him if he can. Regardless, he had himself a day!
There have been other great performances across college basketball in the first round of the tournament, but it is going to be hard for anyone to top what Oweh achieved. We are talking about Oweh matching a single-game tournament mark that had not happened in some 47 years. That is nearly half a century, folks. It is crazy to think that Bird, Bradley, and Robertson played so long ago.
When we look at the box score of Oweh's greatest game to date in a Kentucky uniform, it was not perfect, but exactly what Kentucky needed out of him to win. He played 43 minutes and made 11 of his 24 shot attempts from the field. Oweh connect on three of his eight 3-point attempts, as well as making 10-of-12 free throws from the charity stripe. He did turn the ball over twice, but whatever...
Oweh's best game of his life is proof that you have to keep grinding before that final whistle blows.