In games like the one Kentucky Basketball won at Arkansas on Saturday, you need your leader to take over and the supporting cast to follow him. That’s exactly what happened, with Otega Oweh in takeover
mode from the opening tip, setting the tone for the Wildcats.
Oweh’s supporting cast was behind him for the entire 40 minutes, and they made difference-making plays that led to the Wildcats 85-77 win against Coach Cal and the Razorbacks.
Here are five stars of the game from Saturday’s win for Kentucky in Fayetteville.
Stars of the Game
1. Otega Oweh: 24 pts (9-12 FG), 8 rebs, 3 ast., 38 mins
First off, he played 38 minutes. That’s incredible in a game of this importance and one with the emotion that unfolded.
Oweh was terrific throughout the game. He went coast-to-coast on Kentucky’s first possession to get the scoring started… and send a message. In the second half, with the Wildcats trailing 59-57 with just under 10 minutes remaining, Oweh stole a pass from Darius Acuff Jr. and went the distance for a slam dunk to tie the game.
Kentucky’s best player is playing like the team’s best player, and he went toe-to-toe with Acuff for 40 minutes. Star players are supposed to shine in marquee games and set the tone. Oweh did both of those on Saturday.
2. Collin Chandler: 13 pts (5-9 FG, 2-4 3-PT FG), 1-1 FT, 1 reb., 1 ast., 23 mins
Chandler hit a huge, high-arching three with 10:52 remaining in the second half that cut Kentucky’s deficit to 57-56. The Wildcats needed that three-pointer badly. I’m not sure how that game would have gone had Chandler not made that three.
Then, with 74 seconds to play, Chandler hit the biggest shot of the game: A fadeaway jumper that extended Kentucky’s lead to 82-74.
Those shots are ones Chandler is starting to consistently knock down, and it’s making a huge difference for this Kentucky team.
3. Malachi Moreno: 11 pts (4-7 FG), 3-4 FT, 7 rebs. (5 off.), 1 ast., 2 blk, 27 mins, +16
That’s a heck of a stat line for the homegrown freshman. Moreno is still getting used to playing in these games, but he’s becoming a key contributor.
Arkansas has size, with Trevon Brazille and Malique Ewin imposing a tough cover in the frontcourt. Moreno held his own against them, scoring some key buckets and pulling down some key rebounds.
Moreno is only getting more experience, and that’s going to become critical for Kentucky’s chances in March.
4. Trent Noah: 9 pts 1-1 3-PT FG, 6-8 FT, 7 rebs, 19 mins, +8
Noah was worth not giving up on. Saturday’s performance validated that belief. To come in and pull down seven rebounds in a game with that much physicality and emotion speaks to Noah’s resolve. Noah was clutch at the free-throw line and knocked down a three-pointer in the first half to keep Kentucky in front by two possessions.
5. Mouhamed Dioubate: 5 pts, 5 rebs (3 off.), 3 blk, 26 mins, +6
Dioubate was an enforcer on the interior Saturday night. He was diving for loose balls on both ends of the floor, scraping his way for every rebound, every point, and everything positive to help his team. That’s the kind of player Kentucky fans rally behind. Dioubate has been that player of late for Kentucky, and it could change their trajectory come March.
