Otega Oweh delivered one of the most unforgettable moments in Kentucky basketball history on Friday, drilling a deep 32-footer to tie the game at 70 and force overtime against Santa Clara. But as iconic as the shot was, it quickly became surrounded by controversy.
Just seconds earlier, Santa Clara appeared to be in control. After Allen Graves knocked down a clutch three to give the Broncos a 73-70 lead, head coach Herb Sendek was seen urgently signaling for a timeout along the sideline. However, officials did not grant it — a decision that left Sendek visibly frustrated after the game.
“I unequivocally called a timeout,” Sendek said postgame. “But they didn’t grant it.”
At first glance, it looked like Santa Clara may have been denied a crucial opportunity. But a closer look at the rules — and the timing of the play — tells a different story.
According to former Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl, the referees made the correct call. When the ball is still going through the net after a made basket, neither team has possession. A timeout can only be granted to a team in control of the ball.
That’s where Kentucky’s quick thinking changed everything.
Denzel Aberdeen immediately grabbed the ball as it came through the net and stepped out of bounds to inbound it. The moment he secured the ball, possession belonged to Kentucky. At that point, Sendek no longer had the ability to call a timeout for Santa Clara.
In other words, if Sendek had called for the timeout just a split second earlier — before Aberdeen touched the ball — officials likely would have granted it. But because Kentucky acted so quickly, that window slammed shut.
Instead of a timeout, the Wildcats pushed forward — and seconds later, Oweh delivered his miracle shot that sent the game to overtime and shifted all momentum.
While the sequence sparked debate among fans, the rules ultimately back the officials’ decision. It wasn’t a missed call — it was a matter of timing, awareness, and Kentucky capitalizing in a high-pressure moment.
In the end, what looked like controversy was really a game-changing display of quick execution by the Wildcats — one that kept their season alive and added another legendary chapter to March Madness history.
