"Tears down my face": Kentucky HC Mark Pope makes feelings known on standout Otega Oweh returning to Wildcats

Kentucky coach Mark Pope couldn't hide his emotion upon learning that guard Otega Oweh is coming back to the Wildcats after trying his luck in the NBA draft.

Oweh announced he's pulling out of the draft on May 28 and will come back to Kentucky and help the team improve on its Sweet 16 finish last season.

Pope, who was interviewed by the UK Sports Network during Father-Son Camp this weekend, spoke about the moment he learned the 6-4 guard is returning for another year with the Wildcats.

"Otega called me and he said, ‘Coach, let’s do this. I’m coming back," Pope, who was on a plane when Oweh called him, said. "So I was like, ‘Otega! I got to call you back later! But just hold that thought! Fifteen minutes later, called him back. He said he was coming back. Tears down my face."

Oweh's call made Pope look like a big winner during the offseason. The junior guard was deemed a vital piece for Kentucky's campaign next season after averaging a career-best 16.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

His performance last season earned him the All-SEC Second Team Selection and a Sweet 16 stint for the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament.

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Kentucky coach Mark Pope shares his thoughts on Otega Oweh's desire to be better

Otega Oweh (Image Source: IMAGN)

Kentucky coach Mark Pope also commented on Otega Oweh's desire to improve as a player and his maturity in accepting his limitations, which led him to return to Lexington.

Pope, who played for six seasons with Indiana, Milwaukee and Denver in the NBA, knew that Oweh wanted to validate his status in the 2025 NBA draft and how he could be a better player when he returns to Kentucky.

"I know it’s the dream of a lifetime and it was super humbling to see you do two things," Pope said. "One, understand how much you want to get better, how committed you are to getting better and the second thing was to see how much you understand and appreciate what you have right now. That’s special stuff, man.”

Otega Oweh leads a fearsome cast of 14 Wildcats players who seek to improve on their finish last season. Oweh will be joined by returnees Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler, Trent Noah and Walker Horn on the team.

Kentucky will be reinforced by six transfer portal acquisitions: Jayden Quaintance, Jaland Lowe, Denzel Aberdeen, Mo Dioubate, Kam Williams and Reece Potter, plus three high school recruits in Jasper Johnson, Malachi Moreno and Braydon Hawthorne.

Meanwhile, 6-11 Croatian recruit Andrija Jelavic is still finishing his overseas stint and may likely come to Lexington later rather than sooner.

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