Edge defender Odafe Oweh during Commanders OTA
ASHBURN, Va. — The Owehs know how to do March Madness.
Start with Odafe. On March 9, the highly sought-after free agent edge defender agreed to a four-year, $96 million contract with a Washington Commanders team seeking help for its much-maligned defense. Generating 7.5 sacks for the playoff-bound Los Angeles Chargers following an in-season trade ensured a hot market for his services.
Eleven days later, younger brother Otega grabbed the spotlight in the NCAA Tournament.
Otega, Kentucky’s leading scorer, tied the Round of 64 matchup against Santa Clara with a twisty layup, only for the Broncos to bury a 3-pointer for the lead with 2.4 seconds remaining.
Calm in the clutch, Oweh quickly advanced the ball and banked in a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from just inside halfcourt to force overtime.
As the 6-foot-4 guard dribbled up the left side of the court moments after Santa Clara’s go-ahead 3-pointer, his older brother had a premonition.
“I knew he was going to make it. We have some type of playmaking genes,” Odafe said. “So when he was dribbling, I was like, ‘Go! Go! Go!’”