How Otega Oweh is starting to steal the show in limited minutes for OU men's basketball
NORMAN — For some freshmen, adjusting to Big 12 play can be a challenge.
It's a physical, veteran-led stretch of games that yields no nights off. All 10 teams are competing for a bid in the NCAA Tournament, making it the top conference in the nation.
And yet there stood OU freshman Otega Oweh, clapping confidently as he wreaked havoc on defense during the first half of a 62-60 loss to 21st-ranked Baylor on Saturday.
The first-year guard had just gotten a steal and dunk on the previous possession. It marked the first of five steals by Oweh that evening, and they came in just 11 minutes of playing time.
"He works his tail off," OU coach Porter Moser said of Oweh. "Usually the basketball gods reward guys that work this hard and keep their mind right. ... I thought he really gave us great minutes."
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Oweh showed no fear against the Bears, whose offense ranks second in the nation in adjusted efficiency (119.5).
The former four-star recruit made numerous hustle plays, including one at the 15:22 mark of the second half.
Baylor's Adam Flagler dribbled the ball off his foot, and it rolled over to teammate Jalen Bridges. But before Bridges could reach down and grab it, Oweh came sliding across the hardwood for the steal.
He then gave the ball to Bijan Cortes for a fastbreak opportunity that ended in a dunk by Sam Godwin.
Oweh's hustle plays were crucial in what proved to be a one-possession game. His five steals led to six points on the other end for the Sooners, and he tied for a team-high plus/minus of four.
"He’s giving us some energy defensively, and that’s one thing," Moser said of Oweh. "He had some of his defense create offense. ... I love what he brought today."
Oweh has had to make the most of his limited minutes this season.
The freshman enters Tuesday night's game at 11th-ranked TCU averaging just 6.5 minutes of action per game. Still, he leads OU with one steal per contest.
More:How did Bijan Cortes reclaim his role with OU men's basketball? 'I always stay ready'
The advanced stats also show Oweh's defensive impact. He boasts a team-high steal percentage of 9. In second place is sophomore C.J. Noland at just 2.1%.
Defending against physical, veteran players in the Big 12 hasn't been a problem for Oweh. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard has the right measurables to hold his own.
"He’s got great feet, and we just thought with (Baylor's) guards he could just physically guard," Moser said. "That’s what he brings us — athleticism and defense."
Oweh's defense is already on par with the rest of the Big 12, but his offense remains a work in progress.
Oweh scored six points on 3-for-3 shooting from the floor against Baylor, although two of those buckets came in transition following one of his steals. He struggled to create in the halfcourt setting, stumbling or showing loose control of the ball on multiple occasions.
That has played a role in his limited playing time this season. Oweh has yet to attempt a 3-pointer, and his offensive rating of 90.9 is the third lowest on the team.
"I think we’ve got to keep working on him, on his skill level on offense and everything," Moser said. "It’ll be my job to get him better in the flow of the offense."
More:What was Porter Moser's message to Sooners after Bedlam loss? 'You can't lose confidence'
Oweh showcased offensive capabilities during his time at Blair Academy.
He averaged 20.2 points per game as a senior. Despite only making seven 3-pointers in 25 games, the standout guard did damage by using his strength to get to the rim.
Getting Oweh's offense to translate to the Division I level could take some time, but the freshman has plenty of that. Meanwhile, he showed Saturday that his defense is good enough to warrant playing time right now.
"It’s been some matchup things," Moser said of Oweh's limited minutes. "I thought this was a good game for him."
OU vs. TCU
TIPOFF: 7 p.m. Tuesday at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas (ESPN+)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU men's basketball: Otega Oweh steals the show in loss to Baylor
