Buzz Williams Appreciates UK’s Physical Play, Offensive Flow

Vicky Graff Photo

Was Kentucky more physical than what Texas A&M coach Buzz Williams thought it would be Tuesday night when the Cats beat his team 81-69?

Maybe, maybe not.

The Cats out rebounded A&M 40-30 which was a bit of a surprise since rebounding has been at issue at times this year for UK and the Aggies are one of the nation’s best offensive rebounding teams.

“I think I would probably have to judge how they rebound a little differently than how we do. I think they played semi-fast paced; 43 percent of possessions occurred in transition — that’s not Alabama fast but that’s for sure not Texas A&M fast,” Williams said. “So, if you are playing fast and you are shooting a high volume of 3’s and your offense is five out, I think you probably handle rebounding differently than we do.

“Personally, I think what they do is a lot of European things. I think [Oweh] is a go-get as far as we would say. [Garrison] is a go-get. [Williams] is a go-get. [Carr] is a go-get. Other than that—those numbers on those shots—they are buying their real estate between them and their opposing offender and there are a lot of rebounds.

“I do think they play with physicality, relative to that concept. I think that concept fits from a rebounding standpoint, relative to what they are doing before the rise of the shot.”

Kentucky fans certainly helped  fuel the Cats’ second half surge when they outscored the Aggies 46-37 after being limited to 35 points the first half. Williams understands Rupp Arena is a difficult place to play.

“It is an invisible margin—every possession, every call, every ninth call, every head coach and bench reaction, every free-throw—I think that’s the thin line regardless of the team,” Williams said. “This is the best job in college basketball. Rupp Arena and everything with it. I think everyone would agree with that.

“I don’t necessarily think it is the ambiance, not talking negatively about the officials, but I just think that the margin of those possessions that are talking about. It is invisible. I also think you are talking about the best league in the country and the talent of each league. You are talking about guys who will be making multi-millions of dollars not playing in college.

“There are going to be a lot of emotions, and there will be a lot of emotions in order for it to be a game. You just cannot be emotional.”

Williams has a top 15 team and was playing without his best player, Wade Taylor, who is out with an injury. Yet he stymied UK’s offense most of the first half before Jaxson Robinson, who once played for Williams, took over offensively.

Williams said he enjoyed studying Pope’s offense.

“I know that sounds condescending. I mean it in the most respectful way. Really good players, a lot of variety to the skill as you know. But I think the utilization of the talent and the skill considering the newness of the coach and his staff and the players. That’s really difficult to do,” the Texas A&M coach said.

“I have not seen any of their practices or their film sessions but the teaching that is going on and the itinerary of the practices—for them to have the execution that they have— [it is] remarkable. The third best offense in the country. That puts stress on you in transition, that puts stress on you immediately following transition.

“And, as soon as it goes to #22 (Amari Williams) or #10 (Brandon Garrison), they begin to run the coach’s offense and that is a different type of stress. So, there are three versions of stress and they are potent in each category.”