Vicky Graff Photo
When he was playing at Drexel, Amari Williams did not get a chance to play in a lot of high-profile games.
That’s one reason he transferred to Kentucky and now he gets his chance to show what he can do tonight against No. 7 Duke in the Champions Classic in Atlanta.
Williams played against Villanova last season and had 12 points, six rebounds and five blocks in an upset win in what he admitted Monday was “one of the biggest highlights” of his basketball career.
The 7-foot center is off to an impressive start for UK. He has averaged 12.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. He’s also shooting 71 percent from the field.
Duke is led by freshman sensation Cooper Flagg.
“Everyone has kind of seen what he can do. It’s about going out and being confident in our defense and the plans we have for him. Trusting the guys we have around us, I feel like that’s going to bring us a W in this game,” Williams said.
Another Duke freshman, guard Kon Knueppel, is the ACC Rookie of the Week, after averaging 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in two wins while shooting 56.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
Duke plays two bigs — Khaman Maluach and Maliq Brown. Maluach is 7-2 and considered a potential lottery pick by some NBA draft analysts. Williams is confident that teammate Brandon Garrison and him can handle the challenge against two “skilled” Blue Devil big men.
“Boxing out is going to be something we’ve got to emphasize.I feel like me and BG is one of the best frontcourts in the nation. I feel like we’ll do just fine,” Williams said Monday. “We know what they’ve got. Similar to us, they’ve got a deep bench with some older guys. I feel like we match up well with them.”
8 Responses
I’m expecting a win, too. I believe Pope & his staff have instilled into the players that UK will win tonight!
I think this early in the year we should win with all the experience we have. I’m calling for it to be 88-79 Kentucky. Our defense is what will win this game for us.
I hope you are right and sure agree with the value of experience AND relentless defense being major factors in favor of UK. All of these UK players have been double digit (or nearly so) scorers in their history of college BB. Depth keeps the D intense and fresh.
It all starts in the mind. If you believe you can win, you have a shot. If you think you will lose, you have already lost. We don’t have to back down from any team in the country. The rest of the world will come to know that by January 1.
It sure does! The flustered minds of UK FB players with revolving door incompetent coaches will mess with most college age students who already face a change juat bu going to college.
Mark Pope has no expectation of losing any games. He is carrying the legacy of Rick Pitino into this successful wave of UK BB.
#9 Is the #1 goal of UK players.
Thank you Mark Pope
I also thank the Lord for relieving us of 1/4 century bondage under the P&F Syndrome.
PLOW & FRAUD – the gap as big as the Grand Canyon swallowed up highly successful legendary UK in the years between Pitino & Pope.
Williams is a hoss! He is very valuable and a real TEAM player!
Amari was right!
It’s November. Let’s not get too excited 😆