Amari Williams fits Mark Pope's offense but former UK All-American Kenny Walker would like to be a little quicker with his decision making in the paint. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky coach Mark Pope likes that centers Amari Williams and Brandon Garrison both want to play 40 minutes but also both understand they have roles that will not let that happen.
“They are both starving to play and they both cheer for each other. It’s really a beautiful thing. Amari has been such an incredible big brother to BG,” Pope said.
Williams, a Drexel transfer, came to Kentucky known for his defensive prowess and passing. He believed Pope and his staff could help develop him into a better all-around player and give him a chance to show that against elite competition.
“Amari Williams is a play starter even at his size. He has a handle, he can drive it, he can pass it,” ESPN analyst Jimmy Dykes said. “He was a three-time defensive player of the year in his conference but he can be an offensive problem. He is a legit 7-footer who can create his own one-on-one action. A 7-footer who can handle the ball on the perimeter and open that inside game up is perfect for what Pope needs in his offense.”
If Williams has one problem other than sometimes maybe dribbling too much which has helped lead to a team-high 25 turnovers, it might be that he cares too much. He can get frustrated at himself and it often shows.
“He might care about this more than anybody that I know. Like, he cares so much and he wants to perform well so badly, and he brings so much out of the games. One of the things that he’s working on is moving on to the next play with a whole heart and that’s a challenge when you care as much as he does and our guys do,” Pope said.
Pope has assistant coach Alvin Brooks do a video edit of each player’s body language after each game.
“We actually show our guys following the game when we do our autopsy, one of the edits will show our guys — there’s only body language, it’s only winning body language. Body language where it’s like, ‘Oh we can be better.’ And so that’s something we pay a lot of attention to and our guys are really working on,” Pope said. “Amari is gonna continue to be great at it.”
Former UK All-American Kenny Walker knew Williams was supposed to be a great shot blocker and rebounder. Williams leads the team in blocked shots (19) and rebounding (9.0 per game) along with scoring 9.8 points per game. He’s also shot 55 percent from the field. However, his turnovers, inability to finish at the rim at times and spurts of uninspired play on defense have frustrated UK fans.
“He has done some things really well and the things that worry me offensively with him can be corrected,” Walker said. “For a big guy, he dribbles the ball a little too much. He is good at initiating the offense and gets assists but he also leads theta in turnovers. He has to be better at that.
“He has also had trouble finishing around the rim when they throw it inside to him. Sometimes he dribbles three or four times before getting a shot off. When they throw it inside to him, he has to shoot or take one or maybe two dribbles at most.”
Walker was an explosive jumper. Williams is not and Walker understands he uses his dribble to establish a rhythm but he has to be quicker.
“He is thinking too much. He just has to be decisive and quick whether he’s going to shoot or pass. But those are things he can do and there’s no doubt in SEC play against all these physical teams that he is going to be a very, very important player for this team.”
16 Responses
Williams is one of my favorites & a big reason is that he is one of the “100% TEAM 1st” players. Garrison & Carr are also 100%. The 3 bigs bought in to the Coach pope offense and never slip back. I believe the 3 FR are also 100%’ers. The 2 players with the lowest ANE of those getting most of the minutes are not 100% and have been sliding back into a selfish mode since game 5. It has impacted the entire team performance and resulted in a fractured group instead of a TEAM.
It’s time for ALL the players to get on board.
The A:TO ratio keeps slipping as proof that some are more selfish each week the either get on board or the season is ruined by 2 or so players,
I have no idea what Robinson shows the coaches during practices, but I know what I have seen in the games. He consumes a high % of possessions at the lowest efficiency, by far, among the 9 players getting large minutes per game.
This is not a formula for team success.
I agree 100%, Professor your comprehensive analysis of performance – ANE (Adjusted Net Efficiency) – supports & proves it.
The drastic decline in team performance & efficiency has corresponded to the decrease of assists & decrease of A:TO ratio.
A ride on the pine for at least a half, with a very clear explanation as to why, would be a start and also make it clear to others where they will be headed if they don’t share the ball.
It seems that Pope is loyal to his players also. Robinson followed Pope to Ky and Pope is going to stick with him because of that fact. In the past I think I’ve heard that called "playing his pets". It’s not just Robinson. Butler went crazy against Loserville and didn’t show up against Ohio St. In fact the whole team must have been thinking about Hamilton. The trouble with 7 super seniors is they have other things on their mind. Getting engaged, getting married, starting families, and getting a job. Not NBA jobs. I don’t see anyone getting a NBA job or they would already have it. They are old enough to know what to do and what is expected. They are also getting paid good money. They seem to perform better in big games. We will see because every SEC game will be a Big Game. Go Cats!
The style of play has changed it the last 6 games or so. The shoot the ball early in the clock and often has gone. It’s been replaced with dribbling around and taking a shot with the clock winding down. Hopefully this time off was used to iron some stuff out. If not this team is going to get steam rolled when we get into the SEC. They have got to get tougher or they are.going to get man handled. Because the SEC is a grown man league
I think they will
Pope ball is still the way to play. It’s the way Tennessee, Auburn, and Florida are playing. Pope came into the picture late. He had to assemble a staff first and then go out and recruit the best kids he could find in the portal. He only had 3 freshmen join the team and none were ready for major minutes. Trying to get seniors and super seniors to forget about the NBA is not the easiest thing to do, unless they aren’t that good. Butler has the best shot at the NBA, but not by being a pass first point guard. If Butler is not a pass first point guard, then Pope ball is an idea for next season. We will be 11-2 going into SEC play. If we finish at 20-11 that will be a success. Will we win the SEC tourney…No. Will we get to the Final 4…No, but I don’t see us losing in the first round.
The 2025 season will be the first season that Pope can recruit and coach the kind of kids who will be willing to play Pope ball. Moreno, Johnson, and Lewis are not OAD talent; they will be 2 to 4 year players. Will those years all be in a Kentucky uniform…not all of them. The 2027 team will most likely be the first complete team to buy into playing Pope ball. We will have 20+ win seasons prior to that and may even win an SEC title or make a Final 4 before then, but the 2027 kids will be kids who have grown in Pope’s system and will be comfortable playing Pope ball. Mark Pope was the right choice to be Kentucky’s coach and his teams will win championships in time. John Wooden, Dean Smith, and Coach K were not championship coaches until they were able to recruit kids who would buy into their systems. The same will be true for Coach Pope if we give him time. Go CATS!!!
Maybe finish 9-9 in conference play would be a success. Not bad for a team that a narcissistic clown destroyed on his way out, a departure everyone was anxious to see, one must admit. Advance a couple of games in SEC tourney, win one in the big dance, a success with a first year coach who was stabbed in the back before getting there, whomever it would have been. Cal gone is a victory in itself!! Greasy, greedy charlatan he was.
On February 1st I’m going to boo him like I’ve never booed anybody before.
That might be a realistic expectation Steve. Hoping Pope’s team can do better but if you look at schedule today, it is going to be very hard
I agree, Steve. I’m just glad I am truly enjoying watching UK play basketball again. I was burnt out on Cal and his excuses. I don’t really have a goal in mind for the team because of the situation Pope walked in to. I’ll be happy with whatever our record is because, for me, the real win was Cal leaving.
The oldest team in UK history and the fans are willing to settle for a .500 season. The nation’s best 3 point shooter coming in. Two Conference defensive players of the year. Before Ohio St. some were guaranteeing sweet sixteen and 50% chance of a final four. If the Cats go .500 in Conference, they may not make the tournament. Wow, how expectations have fallen for the BBN. Pope don’t have to make excuses. The "fans" are doing it for him.
Started from SCRATCH is a pretty good excuse.
Not when you bring in SEVEN Super Seniors! That’s a team full of 24 year olds. Just what BBN asked for. Now you want to make excuses. If the Cats go 9-9 in conference, that will be a total failure.
Just giving you some rope.
Like I did last season.
I don’t know what rope you’re talking about. If Pope goes to 4 Final Fours, 7 Elite 8’s, and wins a Title in his first ten years then you can talk to me. If he can do ONE of each I’ll be happy.
Did you know that Bear Bryant won titles at Alabama, then went 8 straight years without a bowl win, then won more titles. Good thing the entitled didn’t run him off.