If Hollywood ever needs inspiration for a basketball drama, Thursday night’s SEC Tournament game in Nashville can be their reference. It had everything—high stakes, last-second heroics, a crushing twist, and even a tearful postgame press conference. The leading man? Otega Oweh. The heartbroken character? Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser.

With 5.6 seconds left, Oklahoma had seemingly completed a miracle comeback. Jeremiah Fears, living up to his last name, struck fear into the Wildcats with a layup that gave the Sooners an 84-83 lead. But Oweh, a former Sooner now donning Kentucky blue, had one more act left in his script. He sprinted down the court, took the baseline Oklahoma left open, and drilled a contested jumper with just 0.5 seconds left. The ball dropped through the net, sealing an 85-84 Kentucky victory and sending Oklahoma home from their first-ever SEC Tournament.

Now, postgame press conferences are usually a mix of coach-speak, deep sighs, and “we’ll watch the film and get better.” But this one? This one was personal. Moser couldn’t hold back his emotions. His voice wavered. His eyes welled with tears. This wasn’t just about losing. It was about who had delivered the final blow.

There’s losing to a rival, and then there’s losing to a former player who hits the game-winner. That’s a different kind of pain. Oweh, who transferred from Oklahoma to Kentucky in the offseason, was already a known problem for the Sooners. Earlier in the season, he had left his old squad struggling after a career-high 28 points. This time, he settled for 27, but it’s safe to say the last two were worth more than the previous 25 combined.

The 6’5” guard wasn’t just scoring—he was everywhere. He finished with five assists, four rebounds, and three steals, making sure Oklahoma never got too comfortable. For Kentucky fans, this was the moment they had been waiting for. A star to emerge under new head coach Mark Pope. Oweh proved he was that guy.

It is true that coaches get emotional all the time. But Moser’s reaction was different. His tears weren’t just about a tournament loss; they were about a personal connection. Moser isn’t just another clipboard-waving, suit-wearing strategist. He’s a players’ coach. His 2018 Final Four run with Loyola-Chicago wasn’t just a Cinderella story—it was proof that his player-first philosophy worked. So, Oweh’s remarkable performance wasn’t just a loss for him. It was a moment of reflection, of what could have been. A reminder that, in college basketball, bonds are built, but rosters change. And sometimes, those changes come back to haunt you.

What if Otega Oweh had stayed? The painful ‘what-if’ for Oklahoma Sooners

Just last season, he was one of them—wearing crimson and cream, flashing moments of brilliance, showing glimpses of the star he was becoming. But instead of being Oklahoma’s hero, he became their heartbreak. Twice.

Oweh isn’t just a scorer- he’s a game-changer. Possessing explosive athleticism and a relentless motor, he plays with an energy that shifts momentum on both ends of the floor. His defensive versatility? Elite. His ability to create his own shot? Something Oklahoma desperately needed in those final moments against Kentucky.

Since transferring to Kentucky, Oweh has flourished, averaging 16.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. His efficiency has been impressive—49.2% from the field, 34.8% from three. And when the game is on the line, he doesn’t just show up—he delivers. Just ask Oklahoma, the team he buried with a baseline jumper at the buzzer in the SEC Tournament.

Meanwhile, the Sooners have struggled with consistency, leaning heavily on Jeremiah Fears, who dropped 28 points in their loss to Kentucky. But even with Fears’ heroics, Oklahoma came up just short. Would things have been different if Oweh had stayed? Would he have been the extra spark, the closer they needed in a high-pressure SEC season?

Beyond the stats, Oweh’s presence alone could have been a stabilizing force for a Sooners team adjusting to a new conference. He knew the system. He knew the locker room. He had already built the chemistry that takes time to develop. Instead, Oklahoma had to watch from the other side as he became the very player who sent them home.