Amari Williams reveals Rupp Arena nap secrets on SportsCenter

Kentucky players Amari Williams and Otega Oweh joined sportscaster Matt Barrie on SportsCenter earlier today. As part of the program’s ‘SportsCenter on Campus’ bit, Barrie is spending the day in Lexington as the Wildcats prepare to host Tennessee tonight (7:00 p.m. EST) on ESPN.

To open the three-hour show, Barrie met with Williams and Oweh on the team’s practice floor inside the Joe Craft Center. They touched on the usual topics of conversation: what it means to be playing at Kentucky, what battling in the Southeastern Conference is like, the transition to being at a Blue Blood, etc.

But Barrie did ask some more fun, personal questions. It’s a snow day here in Lexington, so UK is out of classes. Oweh has spent most of the off day with his dog while Williams did have to watch a video online for one of his classes. Oweh just wrapped up watching the latest episode of Tell Me Lies on Hulu, if you need something to add to your rotation. Williams, who spent the last four years in Philadelphia, was cheering hard for the Eagles on Sunday. And like most of us, they didn’t believe the news when the Luka Doncic trade happened, either.

But the moment from this short back-and-forth that stuck out to me was when Barrie asked the two Wildcats how they prepare for games, especially when the game is later in the day, much like tonight’s matchup with the Volunteers. Williams said he essentially spends his entire day at Rupp Arena.

“After shootaround usually I just stay at Rupp, sleep on the couch,” Williams said. “A bunch of us always stay, sometimes play video games, watch any of the games that’s on TV.”

A pregame nap at Rupp Arena sounds pretty nice. He might be there right now getting in some extra rest. He’ll need it after dunking all over Barrie to close out his segment with Oweh.

.@OtegaOweh and @amxriwillixms joined @MattBarrie live on @SportsCenter.

📺 – ESPN pic.twitter.com/r7XT178G6z

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) February 11, 2025