There was a moment this Friday where No. 7 seed Kentucky was staring a first-round exit right in the face. Now, it's not an exaggeration to say the SEC school's path to the Sweet 16 has cleared up.
Kentucky star Otega Oweh saved his team's season by making a game-tying shot from the midcourt logo as time expired. Although it wasn't easy, Kentucky finally put No. 10 seed Santa Clara away in overtime.
"I was just trying to get the ball out quick, and get as close as I could to the goal. I was looking at the clock the whole time," Oweh said. "I was really just trying to get a shot off, and not let the season end."
With this overtime win over Santa Clara in the books, Kentucky is getting ready to face No. 2 seed Iowa State in the Round of 32. That won't be an easy matchup by any means, but the Cyclones did lose one of their star players.
© Jeff Curry-Imagn Images.
Iowa State loses Joshua Jefferson.
Unfortunately, star forward Joshua Jefferson suffered an ankle injury in the opening minutes of Friday's game against No. 15 seed Tennessee State. He came into the NCAA Tournament averaging 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.
Jefferson was spotted on crutches during this Friday's broadcast. It's highly unlikely he'll be cleared for action by Sunday.
Iowa State could still defeat Kentucky without Jefferson, but his absence has to be taken into consideration.
And if you want to look ahead, the Midwest Region as a whole hasn't looked great. After all, we saw No. 3 seed Virginia get all it can handle from No. 14 seed Wright State.
Who knows? Maybe this is the perfect year for Kentucky to go on an improbable run.
