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A CBS Sports writer had been skeptical about Oklahoma’s chances of making the NCAA Tournament, leaving the Sooners out of the latest bracket projections. However, their recent game presented an opportunity to change that perception. Unfortunately for Oklahoma, the University of Kentucky, ranked 23rd in the USA Today Coaches Poll and 17th in the AP Top 25, prevented that from happening. Kentucky secured a hard-fought 83-82 victory over Oklahoma on Wednesday night. Yet, it wasn’t just the result of the game that captured attention — it was the reaction to Kentucky forward Brandon Garrison that became a major talking point.
The highly-anticipated matchup turned out to be more than just a clash between two teams — it became a battle against Oklahoma’s own fanbase. From the moment player introductions began, the home crowd made their presence felt, unleashing loud boos that created a hostile atmosphere. The situation escalated further when Oklahoma students singled out Otega Oweh, calling him a “traitor” while he stood at the free-throw line.
Despite the hostility, Oweh didn’t seem bothered. He put up an impressive performance, contributing 18 points to Kentucky’s total. However, Oweh wasn’t the only target of the crowd’s ire. As the Wildcats left the court following their victory, much of the fanbase’s frustration was redirected at Garrison — a player with local ties, having transferred to Kentucky from Oklahoma State.
In a particularly alarming incident, someone from the crowd threw a beer can, narrowly missing Garrison’s head. The incident was just one example of the tensions running high following Kentucky’s win — a win that stung even more given Kentucky’s struggles entering the game with a 2-6 record. Kentucky fans, in turn, flooded online comment sections, defending their players and the program.
In those heated online discussions, Oklahoma fans took aim at Kentucky’s roster, particularly at Garrison and Oweh. Despite the anger, some fans couldn’t help but praise Garrison’s performance, with one even comparing him to former Kentucky star DeMarcus Cousins.
The frustration among Oklahoma fans was somewhat understandable. Garrison, a native of Oklahoma, and Oweh, a player who had spent the previous two seasons at Oklahoma before transferring to Kentucky, both played key roles in the Wildcats’ victory. Wednesday marked the first time the duo returned to Oklahoma wearing Kentucky blue, and the Sooners’ faithful were well aware of how important they were to the Wildcats’ success. Without them, Kentucky might have suffered another loss.
Instead, the two combined for 40 points, helping Kentucky escape with a narrow win at the Lloyd Noble Center. Oweh was the standout, scoring a game-high 28 points — 23 of them coming in the second half after managing just five points before halftime. Oweh also added six rebounds, a steal, and a block to his stellar performance. One Kentucky fan even declared, “Cry about it, Oklahoma. Otega Oweh is your new governor.”
Garrison made his mark as well, finishing with 12 points on efficient 5-of-8 shooting. Beyond his scoring, Garrison contributed four rebounds, three blocks, and three steals. His biggest moment came at the very end of the game, when he blocked Jeremiah Fears’ potential game-winner as time expired, sealing Kentucky’s dramatic victory.
However, Garrison’s defensive heroics also seemed to ignite the home crowd’s fury. Many Oklahoma fans viewed him as a traitor not just for playing for Kentucky, but also because of his previous stint at Oklahoma State — Oklahoma’s in-state rival. That combination of factors led to some ugly fan behavior, including the near-miss beer can incident. One online commenter demanded accountability, asking the SEC how much Kentucky would be compensated for such an incident, while another called for the person responsible to be arrested.
Following the game, Kentucky found itself in seventh place in the SEC standings with a 19-9 overall record. With March Madness approaching, the Wildcats still have three regular-season games left — two of them against ranked opponents, including a showdown with top-ranked Auburn. Whether Kentucky can build on this momentum and secure another statement win remains to be seen.