Author: Gabby Har

Otega Oweh headed to the locker room in the first half of Friday’s game against Alabama after taking a hit to the face. The Kentucky guard was defending against Labaron Philon when he got hit with an inadvertent elbow.

Philon was driving to the basket as Oweh was defending and hit him on the left side of the face with an elbow. The officials didn’t call a foul on the play, and deemed it a basketball play after reviewing it during the commercial break.

Out of the timeout, SEC Network’s Molly McGrath asked Mark Pope about how Oweh’s absence – however long it would be – impacts Kentucky moving forward. Considering the Wildcats’ injury issues this year, he said they know about the next-man-up mentality.

“We just move on to the next guys,” Pope said. “Unfortunately, we have a ton of experience doing that and they’ve responded really well. So that’s what we’ll do right now.”

Oweh spent quite a bit of time in the locker room for a mouth injury, McGrath later reported. Kentucky expressed optimism about his chances of returning, and he later returned to the bench with just over six minutes to go in the first half. He checked back in with 5:30 to go in the first half with a cut on the left side of his lip.

“You mentioned Kentucky guard Otega Oweh is back in the locker room with a very bloody mouth injury,” McGrath said. “They’re not too concerned about his ability to return, but I am being told that he is still being evaluated. That is the most that I can get on Otega Oweh’s status thus far.”

Oweh is a crucial part of the Kentucky attack this season and played the hero in Thursday night’s victory over Oklahoma. After the Sooners took a lead with five seconds to go, Oweh took the inbound down the court and hit the game-winning layup with 0.5 second left. That not only sent Kentucky to the SEC tournament quarterfinal, but also became Oweh’s second game-winning shot against his former team this season.

Oweh leads Kentucky in scoring this season, averaging 16.5 points while shooting 49.5% from the field. He’s also a threat on the defensive end, leading UK with 1.3 steals per game, as well. With Lamont Butler also out with an injury, Oweh is even more important to the Wildcats’ success as they chase an SEC tournament title.

The Oklahoma Sooners gave up two game-winners to Oweh.

They say beating a team twice in the same season in college sports is a difficult thing to do. How about not only doing so twice, but in the same way and by virtually the same score, and with the same player delivering the final dagger?

What do they call that…Deja vu all over again? At the very least, definitely incredibly bad luck.

On Feb. 26, in a relatively close game right to the end, Oklahoma took an 82-81 lead over Kentucky on a pair of free throws with 20 seconds to go in the game. Just when it looked like the Sooners might pull out a huge Quad 1 win over the country’s 17th-ranked team, Otega Oweh, who played the last two seasons at Oklahoma, drove to the basket and put up an off-balance, two-point shot that dropped through the net with six seconds remaining to put Kentucky back in front, 83-82.

The Sooners still had time left to get the ball down the court and get off what would have been a game-winning shot, but Jeremiah Fears’ layup attempt at the other end was blocked by, guess who? The former Sooner Oweh, who ended up scoring a career-best 28 points in leading Kentucky to the regular-season win over Oklahoma.

Two weeks later, these same two teams met this past week in the second round of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament. Kentucky led most of the game and held a 10-point advantage with 1:26 to go in the game after Oweh, yet again, made two free throws to make it 80-70.

It appeared at that point that the Wildcats had the game well in control, and the Sooners’ time in their first SEC tournament, not to mention their three-game win streak, was about to come to a disappointing end.

No one bothered to tell the Sooners that the game was over, however, as OU dialed up some Sooner Magic, scoring 14 of the next 17 points and remarkably taking an 84-83 lead with just six seconds left to play in the game.

If this is beginning to sound eerily familiar to you, it should. It is exactly the time and scene that took place two weeks before.

Only this time, it was Oklahoma with the one-point lead, and Kentucky with the ball and needing a basket to win the game with just six ticks left on the game clock. If you’re a Sooner fan — or any person in attendance at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville early last Friday morning — it didn’t take much imagination to know who was going to have the ball in his hands for the final shot.

Unlike OU’s Fears in the game in Norman in late February, Kentucky made good in its attempt to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. And the player who wielded the final knockout punch was none other Oweh himself on a driving layup as time expired.

Porter Moser was asked in the postgame press conference after the SEC tournament loss his impression of Kentucky and specifically of Oweh.

“I coached Otega, so I know my impression of him,” the OU head coach said. “He’s very, very good.”

Ring up another Kentucky win over Oklahoma in the final seconds by just a single point… and the biggest insult of all, it came at the hand of a former Sooner player who gave up his crimson and cream jersey after last season for one of Kentucky blue.

In an unexpected twist that has left college basketball fans buzzing, legendary Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari has revealed a startling secret that his former assistant and current BYU head coach Mark Pope has been keeping from the public for years. Calipari, known for his charismatic leadership and candid interviews, dropped the bombshell during an exclusive interview on ESPN, leaving both fans and basketball insiders eager to uncover more details.

The revelation centers around Pope’s time under Calipari at Kentucky, where Pope served as an assistant coach from 2015 to 2018. While Pope was known for his work with Kentucky’s post players, it now appears there was a hidden aspect of his coaching journey that he had kept under wraps. According to Calipari, Pope had a unique approach to player development that extended beyond the basketball court—one that he had kept a closely guarded secret until now.

“Mark was always ahead of the curve,” Calipari said. “He had this unconventional method that he never wanted anyone to know about. It was about not just making players better at basketball, but shaping their mental toughness and work ethic off the court as well. He took a very holistic approach to coaching, something I admired but knew he didn’t want to share too publicly.”

Sources close to both coaches indicate that Pope’s methods included detailed mind and body regimens, which incorporated meditation, visualization, and specific nutritional strategies. These techniques were aimed at improving the players’ overall performance both mentally and physically. Pope, according to Calipari, believed that success in basketball went far beyond physical ability—it was about mental preparation and resilience.

For years, Pope kept this innovative coaching philosophy under wraps, preferring to focus solely on his players’ on-court skills. However, Calipari, who has always been a mentor and close friend to Pope, stated that he was finally ready to let the world know about his former assistant’s groundbreaking approach.

As fans of both Kentucky and BYU scramble to understand the full scope of Pope’s methods, many are eager to see how this revelation will impact the future of college basketball coaching. Mark Pope, for his part, has remained tight-lipped about the matter but is expected to address the growing buzz at his next press conference.

Whether this secret will revolutionize coaching practices across the country remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: college basketball just became a little more interesting.

ESPN analyst, former Indiana Hoosiers and Georgia Bulldogs Tom Crean, called Indiana’s NCAA Tournament exclusion a “head scratcher,” on Sunday evening as the Hoosiers missed out on a tournament bid.

Crean defended Indiana as an NCAA tournament team, pointing out criteria for bubble teams. Crean also doesn’t only look so much at the resume, but rather at the eye test and whether they can win two games. To Crean, the Hoosiers were are fully capable of doing so but again were left out of the Big Dance for March Madness.

Indiana finished the season with a 19-13 record (10-10 Big Ten), and most recently lost 72-59 to Oregon in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.

The Hoosiers ranked No. 54 in the NET, which put them behind bubble teams in No. 36 University of North Carolina, No. 39 University of Texas and No. 45 Xavier University, among others who all made the tournament.

That wasn’t enough to get them in the tournament this season and they will not accept a post-season bid to play in the Crown, CBI or the N.I.T.

In a bold move that has left the sports world buzzing, Trey Galloway, a standout player for the Indiana Hoosiers, recently declined a lucrative $88.5 million contract extension offered by the university. This decision marks a significant moment in Galloway’s career, signaling his confidence in his abilities and his determination to explore greater opportunities beyond the Hoosiers.

Sources close to Galloway reveal that the contract extension, which would have kept him with the Hoosiers for several more years, was a generous offer that reflected his impressive contributions to the team. However, Galloway, who has made a name for himself as one of the most dynamic players in college basketball, felt that his worth went beyond the financial terms presented by the university.

The decision came after receiving significant interest from multiple professional teams, many of whom see Galloway as a future NBA prospect. His performance on the court, especially in high-pressure games, has garnered national attention, making him one of the most sought-after players in college basketball. The Hoosiers’ decision to extend the offer was in an attempt to secure his talents for the long term, but Galloway’s response suggests that he is aiming for something bigger.

While the details of Galloway’s next move remain unclear, the decision to turn down the substantial extension shows a level of self-assurance and ambition that is rare for a player at this stage in his career. As Galloway navigates the next phase of his journey, basketball fans are eagerly awaiting to see where his talents will take him, with many speculating that a professional career could be on the horizon.

In a shocking move that has left the college basketball world abuzz, Kerr Kriisa, the standout guard for the University of Kentucky Wildcats, has reportedly declined a lucrative contract extension worth $88.5 million. The offer, extended by Kentucky’s athletic department, came after a remarkable season that saw Kriisa lead the Wildcats to a string of victories and demonstrate his exceptional skills on the court.

Sources close to the situation have revealed that Kentucky, in an effort to retain the talented player, proposed a substantial extension that would have secured Kriisa’s future with the team for years to come. However, Kriisa, known for his competitive spirit and high basketball IQ, declined the offer, citing his belief that he could earn a more favorable deal elsewhere.

Kriisa’s decision has raised eyebrows across the basketball community, particularly given the financial magnitude of the offer. With an $88.5 million contract extension on the table, Kriisa’s rejection speaks to his personal ambitions, suggesting he may be looking for a change of scenery or a more significant opportunity to enhance his career.

The Wildcats’ coaching staff and administration are reportedly disappointed but remain optimistic about the team’s future. Kriisa’s decision also underscores the growing trend of college athletes, particularly in high-profile programs, taking greater control over their career decisions.

For now, Kriisa remains one of the most coveted talents in college basketball, and his next move will undoubtedly be closely watched by fans, analysts, and scouts alike. As he continues to hone his skills and explore his options, Kriisa’s future remains one of the most intriguing storylines in collegiate basketball.

The top quarterback prospect for the 2026 recruiting class is no longer committed to the Georgia Bulldogs.

But the prospect may still land with the Bulldogs before National Signing Day. Five-star quarterback Jared Curtis visited Athens, Ga., again over the weekend.

Curtis’ mother, Barbara, who previously raved about the family’s time with the Oregon Ducks on March 11, spoke very highly of the quarterback’s visit with the Bulldogs.

“I will say, it’s always great to be with Coach Smart and company,” Barbara told On3’s Steve Wiltfong on March 16. “We enjoyed Georgia.

We always do,” she added. “They treated us like family, and we enjoyed our time there.”

Curtis initially gave Georgia a verbal commitment but reopened his recruitment.

The Bulldogs and Ducks are Curtis’ final two schools. “I don’t envy Jared for his decision,” Barbara also told Wiltfong. “Great programs with great people.”

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Curtis is the No. 1 quarterback prospect and No. 2 overall recruit in the 2026 class. Curtis will have official visits with Oregon and Georgia in the first half of June.

 

The NCAA Tournament selection committee had make tough decisions with the SEC.

The SEC set a new record with 14 bids in the 2025 March Madness bracket. Never before has a single conference sent so many teams to the NCAA Tournament. It was a historic season for the deepest and most competitive league in college basketball, and the volume of postseason-caliber squads in the expanded conference created what selection committee chair Bubba Cunningham called “a real challenge” in building the bracket.

The selection committee upholds a handful of principles with regard to placing teams from one conference into the bracket. Limiting head-to-head matchups and spreading those teams evenly across the field is of the utmost importance, but doing so with 14 participants is no straightforward task.

“We spent a lot of time on that today,” Cunningham said on CBS. “We didn’t move anybody off of a seed line, but we really had to move people around to minimize the conflict early. When you have four different regions, we made sure we only had, at most, four teams in one region so that we could spread them out the best we could.”

The previous record for most teams from one conference to make the NCAA Tournament was 11. The Big East was responsible for that accomplishment in 2011. Both this year’s SEC and the 2011 Big East had 16 members, so the former sent a larger percentage of its footprint to the tournament.

“We had a couple of contingency brackets,” said Cunningham. “We actually had five. So we had to go back and try to rework the bracket a little bit, again, keeping everyone on the same seed line to move them apart the best that we could. 14 teams, one league, in a 68-team bracket is a real challenge to get everybody in there and meet all the principles that we have about trying to keep the teams apart.”

Auburn secured the No. 1 overall seed despite its losses in three of its last four games, and Florida joined the Tigers on the top seed line. Those two headline their respective regions, both of which include other conference foes.

South Carolina and LSU are the only two teams from the SEC to miss the Big Dance. Texas, meanwhile, scooted into the field as one of the last four in. The Longhorns were part of a heated battle on the bubble, which took center stage as the committee unveiled the bracket.

The SEC accounts for four of the top 10 teams in the latest AP Top 25 rankings, and that is reflected in the bracket with Auburn, Florida, Alabama and Tennessee standing on the top two seed lines. The Gators are the hottest squad of that bunch, and they defeated the Volunteers in the conference tournament championship game just hours prior to the bracket unveil.

 

How does a coach turn a program that went 0-18 in conference play into an NCAA Tournament team just one season later? Dennis Gates did it, and now his No.

21-ranked Missouri Tigers are headed back to the Big Dance. With a 22-11 (10-8 SEC) record, the No. 6-seeded Tigers are officially headed to Wichita for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. They’ll play No.

11 Drake in the West Region. Mizzou’s draw is roughly in line with its projection via Bracket Matrix, which tracked 109 “Bracketology” sites across the country.

The site has the Tigers averaging a 6.77 seed. As for Drake, the Bulldogs clinched their automatic bid to the tournament with a 63-48 win over Bradley in the championship game of the Missouri Valley tournament.

The Tigers are returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2022-23 season, when they lost to 15-seed Princeton in the second round.

Former NFL Rookie of the Year Paul Flatley of the Minnesota Vikings has died, the team said Sunday. He was 84.

Flatley died on Saturday, according to the team.

Flatley played the first five of his eight NFL seasons (1963-70) with the Vikings before finishing up with the Atlanta Falcons. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1966.

He burst on the scene with a then-franchise record 51 catches for 867 yards and four touchdowns in a 14-game season in 1963.

Flatley caught 50 passes two other times for the Vikings. He established career bests of 896 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches in 1965.

Overall, Flatley caught 306 passes for 4,905 yards and 24 touchdowns in 106 NFL games (96 starts).

Flatley played college football at Northwestern. He was a fourth-round pick in the 1963 draft.

Overall, Flatley caught 306 passes for 4,905 yards and 24 touchdowns in 106 NFL games (96 starts).

Flatley played college football at Northwestern. He was a fourth-round pick in the 1963 draft.

–Field Level Media