{"id":328904,"date":"2025-10-24T10:35:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T10:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/328904\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T10:35:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T10:35:12","slug":"sec-kentucky-exhales-after-owehs-return-from-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/328904\/","title":{"rendered":"SEC: Kentucky Exhales after Oweh’s Return from Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kentucky coach Mark Pope will look for an even faster Wildcats lineup that can find 30-35 three-point shots per game. Photo courtesy of UK Athletics.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nothing CAT-astropic!!<\/strong> Guard Otega Oweh<\/strong> is the center and the catalyst of Kentucky\u2019s 2025-26 basketball team, so when he struggled with turf toe leading up to preseason practice, there was a sigh in the Big Blue Nation and then a collective exhale. According to medical professionals, Oweh should be ready to go with no limits when the Wildcats host Nicholls on Tuesday, Nov. 4.<\/p>\n

\"\"Guard Otega Oweh is the SEC Preseason Player of the Year. Photo courtesy of UK Athletics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Oweh was second team all-SEC last year when he averaged 16.8 points and shot 35.1 percent from behind the three-point line. He passed 1,00 points during the SEC Tournament, and he scored a layup on a speed dribble to allow the \u2018Cats an 85-84 win over Oklahoma in the first game of the SEC Tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just moving him back into the rotation,\u201d explained Kentucky coach Mark Pope<\/strong>, who noted the Oweh had been out for about 10 weeks. \u201cHe actually was in practice a couple of days ago in his first live scrimmage, really his first possession of live scrimmage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oweh is competitive, which motivates his teammates to feed off his energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been through this,\u201d Pope explained. \u201cHe understands it. He knows what he\u2019s in for. He understands the pressure of the moment; he understands everything that Kentucky is. He embraces it. He can\u2019t get enough of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rivalry Accepted:\u00a0<\/strong>Guard Denzel Aberdeen<\/strong> came over to Kentucky from Florida, where he was a key contributor in the Gators\u2019 rotation last season. He averaged 19.8 minutes per game last season, where he repeatedly broke down defenses and made excellent decisions as a playmaker.<\/p>\n

Aberdeen is likely to start at point guard or small forward, while Oweh will be the 2-guard and shooting guard. Kentucky awaits the return of Pitt transfer Jaland Lowe at the point, which will feed Aberdeen into that 3-guard spot.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cDenzel is the embodiment of this joy and passion to compete. I think everywhere he\u2019s gone in his career I think he\u2019s left fans incredibly inspired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oweh looks forward to sharing the backcourt with Aberdeen.<\/p>\n

\u201cDenzel has been shooting the leather off the ball, and his playmaking, along with his toughness, give him a great competitive spirit about the game,\u201d Oweh said.<\/p>\n

The World of Three:\u00a0<\/strong>Kentucky averaged 25.3 attempted triples a year ago and with this incoming group, Wildcats brass look for more this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things that we found interesting in our research this summer is that top teams defensively actually extend out the defensive possession longer, almost eight seconds, universally for top 10, top 20 teams,\u201d Pope commented. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to extend out this game on our defensive side of the ball and make it faster and more aggressive on the offensive side of the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kentucky could look for more than 30 three-point attempts per game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis group might not have come in with the reputation as being as prolific three-point shooters as some of the guys we brought in last year,\u201d Pope said. \u201cThe progress they made every single week during the summer was remarkable. We have some guys that are shooting the ball at such an elite level right now, it\u2019s pretty inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n

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