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Kentucky

Mark Pope labels Amari Williams 'a one of one'

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•01/29/25•

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Jan 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks with center Amari Williams (22) against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Jan 25, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks with center Amari Williams (22) against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

When Lamont Butler was ruled out for Tuesday’s game against Tennessee, Mark Pope was left without a true point guard. Kentucky had to turn elsewhere and Pope decided to call upon Amari Williams. Somebody who would usually be a forward or maybe even playing center, Williams saw UK’s offense through him.

And boy, did he deliver. Williams scored 10 points and 15 rebounds but also distributed four assists, one of his best efforts of the season. Pope made him a primary ball handler too, a position Williams is usually nowhere near.

There was nothing but praise for Williams during Pope’s postgame press conference. Playing Tennessee in Knoxville is a hard enough task, especially for Kentucky. But going up against this quality of a defensive unit, Pope just raved about his player.

“Amari Williams, he’s like a one of one,” Pope said. “I’m asking him to do an impossible job right now. Come into this gym, sold out… The No. 1 team in the country. No point guard to be found on our roster and I’m like ‘Amari, it’s up to you.’ Amari brought the ball up, probably, against the press more than anybody on our team. This kid is special, man.”

There was a little more personal attachment to this game for Williams too. Tuesday was his 23rd birthday, being the latest game to be played on his special day. Williams admitted this one was the best of them all, getting a huge road win for Kentucky.

But it’s another reason Pope was praying the Wildcats would play well. They were always going to sing for Williams and if it was on the other side of a loss, the mood would have been a whole lot different. Thankfully, there was plenty to celebrate in the Kentucky locker room inside Thompson–Boling Arena.

“It’s his birthday today and we, on purpose, didn’t sing to him. We were saving it to after the game and I was like ‘Please let us win because if we have to sing happy birthday after a loss, it’s going to be really sour and sad.’ But it was a joyful locker room.”

Like many on this year’s roster, Williams entered the program via the NCAA transfer portal. Four years were spent at Drexel before heading to Kentucky for his final season of eligibility. Pope has found a way to make a group of outsiders gel quite quickly.