“The streak… is over.”
Sean Michael Coulthard, better known as Michael Cole, gave the legendary call following the ending of Mark “The Undertaker” Calaway’s legendary WWE Wrestlemania undefeated streak (then 21-0) at Wrestlemania XXX.
As is the case with many legendary sports — or sports adjacent — calls, the line transcended its original usage and has become a staple of sports social media.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the famous call found another reason to be used, this time within the confines of what Kentucky fans would call “BBN Twitter.”
Entering Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, junior guard Otega Oweh had a lot of responsibility as he sought to help will Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats to an upset of a No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide squad that was hungry for a bounce-back win after two straight losses followed seven-straight victories.
Never afraid of the competition, Oweh, like most of his teammates, was confident in UK’s ability to shock the college basketball world – after all, Oweh entered the contest with the season-record for most consecutive games with 10+ points.
Prior to Alabama, Oweh had scored 10 or more in every single one of Kentucky’s 26 games, including multiple games in which he scored 20 or more.
Oweh is averaging 15.7 points per game this season, up from his total last season of 11.4 before he came to Kentucky. His zenith came against Ole Miss — a lopsided loss for UK — when he dropped 24, though he also collected showings of 20 and 21 against the likes of Vanderbilt (twice), Texas, Alabama (the first time), Ohio State, Jackson State and Wright State.
It was in Tuscaloosa, however, that Oweh ran into a brick wall. A brick wall that, despite what many may have expected, wasn’t anyone on the Alabama roster… it was himself.
In his 22 minutes on the court at Coleman Coliseum, Oweh went just 1-9 from the field for two points before the fated 6:49 mark hit in the second half and he picked up his fifth personal foul, taking him out of the equation altogether as he had fouled out of the game.
“That’s the first time he hasn’t scored double digits the entire year,” Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats said. “Obviously, the foul trouble helped us, but even if he hadn’t fouled out, he was 1-9 in 22 minutes. Even if he plays 30 minutes, he only had two points. I thought we did a pretty good job.”
While Oats was happy to credit his defense for the limitation of Oweh, and it certainly played a big role, many Kentucky fans after and during the game were frustrated with the officiating, particularly on his fifth and final foul call — a 3-point foul on a shot by Aden Holloway.
When asked about what Alabama did to limit the junior guard before his fouling out, Pope was not interested in engaging with the question on any level: the defense of the officiating.
“Are you baiting me into an answer here?” he asked the reporter. “I think Alabama’s a terrific defensive team.”
Oweh, while some accused him of being mentally checked out of the game online, was immensely bothered by the outcome of the contest and his performance.
“That was the most frustrated I’ve ever been,” Oweh told KSR.
Luckily for Oweh, the very next game he has a chance to play in might be his most important of the season.
Up next for the Cats, they travel to Oweh’s former school: Oklahoma.
Traveling to Norman, Kentucky will venture into the Lloyd Noble Center, a venue in which Oweh played 33 home games, amassing a 22-11 record during his two seasons with the Sooners.
One such game? An 82-66 victory on Feb. 6, 2023, over none other than the BYU Cougars, led by Pope with current Kentucky star Jaxson Robinson.
Despite such a massive homecoming and the need to redeem a poor showing, Oweh has been casual regarding the upcoming game, downplaying its importance to him personally.
“I’m excited, but I’m just treating it like every other game. Another game that we have to win,” Oweh told UK Athletics. “Since the beginning of the season, I’ve been trying to focus on one game at a time and putting all my effort into each game. I’m looking at this game as the same.”
Regardless, Oweh will be an invaluable asset to Pope and the Wildcats, knowing Oklahoma Head Coach Porter Moser’s scheme inside and out.
“I know Coach Moser, he’s a big X’s and O’s guy,” Oweh said to UK Athletics. “He’s going to make sure he does his research. We just have to be ready to fight.”
In fact, Oweh will be leading the charge in UK’s first ever game in the Sooner State, though the Cats do possess a 3-0 all-time record versus Oklahoma. The Wildcats haven’t squared off with OU since 2010, under then head coach John Calipari in the Maui Invitational, and before that it was in 1987 and 1947 under coaches Eddie Sutton and Adolph Rupp.
Whether or not Kentucky will get the win is to be determined, but Oweh’s performance will likely play a major factor in that final result as one of UK’s most consistent offensive weapons.
Tip off between the Cats and Sooners is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET from the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma, just outside Oklahoma City. The game is scheduled to air live on the SEC Network.
