Otega Oweh’s sophomore season at Oklahoma under head coach Porter Moser showcased his immense potential. Now, as he gears up to face his former team, Oweh has transformed into one of the standout players for the Kentucky Wildcats, averaging 15.7 points per game and leading the team in scoring.
Porter Moser, in his fourth season at Oklahoma, reflected on Oweh’s growth and current success during a press conference ahead of Tuesday night’s matchup. “I think a lot of him as a young man, Otega, great young man,” Moser said. “He’s having a phenomenal year. To have that double-figure scoring streak as long as he did in this league? Phenomenal. He’s having an all-league type of year.”
Oweh’s leap from averaging 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds as a sophomore with the Sooners to becoming Kentucky’s leading scorer highlights his evolution. The 6-foot-5 guard spent two years in Norman before entering the transfer portal last offseason. While Moser and Oweh maintain there’s no bad blood over the transfer, the move reflects the changing landscape of college basketball, where player mobility is at an all-time high.
Oweh’s return to Oklahoma for Tuesday night’s SEC-Big 12 clash will be emotional, as he reunites with former teammates and close friends, including Sooners star Jalon Moore. However, Oweh insists his focus remains on helping the Wildcats secure a crucial road win.
Despite a recent stumble—Oweh’s first single-digit scoring game this season in Kentucky’s loss to Alabama—his consistency throughout the year has been remarkable. He began the season with a 26-game streak of double-digit scoring, an achievement that underscores his reliability.
For Kentucky, Tuesday’s game carries added significance as they aim to solidify their postseason positioning. Head coach Mark Pope, in his first season with the Wildcats, has leaned heavily on Oweh to lead the team through a competitive SEC schedule.
Moser acknowledged the inevitability of facing former players in the transfer portal era but emphasized his respect for Oweh. “It’s not going to be weird. We’re both competitors. He’s going to try to win, we’re going to try to win,” Moser said.
With Oweh’s performance drawing All-SEC buzz, Tuesday’s game provides another opportunity for the standout guard to showcase his growth. Kentucky fans will hope Oweh lives up to Moser’s high praise and leads the Wildcats to a much-needed victory. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. EST on the SEC Network.
