No. 7 Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament run came to an end Sunday in St. Louis with an 82-63 loss to No. 2 Iowa State. The Wildcats jumped out to a 20-11 lead early, but Iowa State responded with a strong run and never looked back, ultimately dominating the second half.
Kentucky only had two players reach double digits. Senior guard Denzel Aberdeen led the way with 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three, adding 1 assist. Otega Oweh added 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting, along with 8 rebounds
and 2 steals. The rest of the roster struggled to produce, and turnovers and missed opportunities prevented Kentucky from staying in the game.
Oweh reflected on his time at Kentucky.
“I just want to say thank you to BBN. These past two years have been amazing. Thank you, Coach Pope, for bringing me in. We fell short this year, but I am sure the guys next year will come in and remember this and get the job. Playing here at Kentucky, that is what the fans and everybody deserves is to win, so I am obviously disappointed that we didn’t get it done this year but I mean these past two years have been amazing, life-changing, and I am just thankful for my teammates that I played with last year, this year, I definitely will never forget it.”
Aberdeen also shared his gratitude.
“First and foremost, I want to thank BBN, coach Mark Pope, my guys, Otega (Oweh), and all of my teammates for allowing me to step foot on the University of Kentucky. Ever since I stepped foot on campus, they welcomed me with warm hugs. Everybody was positive with me. Everybody was basically like family to me, and I want to thank them. We didn’t get to what we wanted to get to today, but I am just proud of each and every one of my teammates, coaches, and the BBN for just allowing me to be here, and I am forever grateful to them.”
Head coach Mark Pope praised his seniors after their final collegiate game.
“I am proud of these guys, man. These guys gave us everything that they could give us. They didn’t give us everything, but they gave us everything that they could give us, and that is something. They grew close together through great times and through moments of adversity, the entire year.
“And Otega Oweh not only put incredible performances on the court that BBN will remember forever, but he also grew as a man and as a leader in his own way. And Denzel Aberdeen brought so much joy to this place. Every single day with his unique competitive spirit and a willingness to try and learn how to do things way differently, in a different position than he had done before. I love these guys, man, it is hard to think much past that.”
With Aberdeen and Oweh being the only two seniors, they will leave a lasting legacy on the program that many will not forget.
