Vicky Graff Photo
Kentucky needed a warrior and found one Tuesday night in Knoxville.
The Cats had lost two straight games and played with injured starters Lamont Butler and Andrew Carr, who tried to play but lasted only 90 seconds. However, UK found the warrior to lead the way in center Amari Williams.
The 7-footer has sometimes frustrated UK fans this season, but against the Vols, he finished with 15 rebounds, including 13 on the defensive end. He did not block a shot, but he altered many shots. He scored 10 points on 3-for-5 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 at the foul line to record his fifth double-double of the season.
Maybe most importantly, with Butler not available to run the point, coach Mark Pope often had Williams initiate the offense. He had four assists and had the ball in his hands way more than a center normally would.
And he did all that despite picking up two fouls in the first half that helped limit him to only 24 minutes.
“Amari Willians is a one-of-one. There is no other center who is a 15 rebound guy in a game like this who you can trust to handle the ball against the press every possession,” Pope said. “He was under duress every time and to do it with no point guard. We are really blessed to have him. He is really unique and he is really talented.”
UK Radio Network analyst Jack Givens thought Williams was “huge in the paint” with his play on both ends.
“He defended well after picking up two fouls and he was the difference in the game because with Lamont Butler out and the pressure points (from Tennessee) at all the other spots he was the point center. He was huge in this game,” Givens said.
Givens credited coach Mark Pope for sensing when Williams fatigues and needs a rest because when he’s tired he is more foul-prone.
“Brandon (Garrison) did not give the team what he normally does so he had to rely on Amari more,” Givens said. “He stayed out of foul trouble and knew he had to stay on the court.”
5 Responses
And it was Amari’s birthday yesterday. The Cats got a present with his play.
Amari had a monster game, but still has room to improve. He is getting better with the ball around the basket. With better footwork, he could be a 20/20 guy by tourney time. Better footwork will help him with his rim protection too. Being a point center will have some turnovers doing what he does. Happy birthday Amari! Go CATS!!!
Tues was not only Amari’s bday, but also my Mom’s bday–so Happy Birthday to both my Mom and Amari! Amari has been my favorite player from the very beginning, and the more he can improve, the happier I am! The thing with Williams is, he has the body, the size, the skill, and the height to be a really dominant force on the college level. He is skilled as a ball-handler and as a passer because he has some guard-like abilities and skills, and any big man who has those usually is always on another uncommon level. But in Amari’s case, it’s almost like he is better skilled at alot of the guard abilities rather than as a center. Where Amari lacks is being the dominant, alpha dog, defensive force and rim protector that guys like Willie Cauley-Stein and Anthony Davis were. And those guys were also wiry, but they had the ability to stand up to and take the physicality from the opponent to still be great at what they did. Amari still has trouble matching up to that, and has not been a shot-blocking, rim-protecting type of F/C—-and it’s a shame because, again, he has the build, the size, and the height u need to have to be great at those things. But he did a hell of a job against TN with the rebounding and holding his own against the physicality, and if he could just give us that the rest of this season, it would go a LONG WAY towards the success of this team. I hope he can just continue to get better and give us as big an inside presence, especially defensively, as he possibly can, the rest of the year–ultimately, that’s all u can ask. I have no doubt that he works hard and he cares as much as Coach Pope says he does. It was great to see him step up to the level he did against a team like TN–he came up huge–and did so while tasked with having to carry a heavy load, with not only being the only true center we had available to play, but also with having to help out with bringing the ball up the floor. Overall, it was Amari’s most inspiring performance of the season, without question! We need u again, big fella, come SAT NIGHT!!
He had a very slow start to the game but could use a little improvement with touch inside and possibly little more Dog as well. Love his passing and rebounding but turns need to be reduced also. He does seem to be proud to wear the uni and be good team player also. Couple of the other dudes need to step up with the on/off games.
He is what he is Mike and he’s the best UK has in the middle