How Amari Williams' teammates are helping him unleash his inner beast: "He's just different."

Kentucky lost the individual battle vs. Arkansas, but it may have won the war in bringing out the best version of Amari Williams. That player, his teammates believe, is the best big man in college basketball.

The fifth-year senior looked the part against the Razorbacks, dominating the competition en route to a season-high 22 points on 9-13 shooting with 11 rebounds, three assists and a steal in 26 minutes. It was the second-best scoring output of his career, finishing at the rim over and over and over with zero pushback. Whether he was fed the ball in the post or initiated himself, Williams was unstoppable.

At one point, one tough bucket over Zvonimir Ivisic earned a “Who’s your daddy?” chant from Big Blue Nation. It was that kind of day for the standout center.

When he’s rolling, sometimes his teammates can’t help but watch in amazement like the rest of us.

“Amari is different, if I’m being honest. I watched his film when he was coming here, but when it’s really in front of you, it’s crazy,” Otega Oweh said Monday. “He’s just so forceful, and he’s bigger than what you really see on TV and stuff like that. When it’s in front of you, it’s crazy.”

As impressive as Williams was, he told on himself. He’s been doing it the past couple of weeks, actually, putting forth performances of 15 points and eight rebounds vs. No. 6 Florida, 10 points and 12 rebounds at No. 14 Mississippi State, eight points and 12 rebounds vs. No. 11 Texas A&M, 13 points and 11 rebounds vs. No. 4 Alabama and 10 points and 15 rebounds at No. 8 Tennessee.

His two worst performances to open SEC play? Two points and five rebounds at Georgia and six points and five rebounds at Vanderbilt — both losses.

What’s been the difference in Williams at his best?

“I mean, first of all, he’s always been super, super strong. He does a great job, especially the last couple weeks, kind of taking his time more when he gets down low and really getting to spots where he knows that he’s able to be dangerous,” Andrew Carr said. “I feel like he’s done a great job of making sure he’s finishing through the basket and to the basket and not going with a hook or something away, kind of leaning and going away from the basket.

“That’s all the stuff that we’ve talked about all summer and things that we try to work on. I feel like he’s gotten a little bit more comfortable and really stepped up, been super aggressive and forceful. And we need him to be.”

The urgency to perform at the highest level has come alongside injury issues for the Cats with Lamont Butler dealing with a hurt shoulder and Kerr Kriisa out indefinitely with a broken foot, plus Carr fighting off some back problems. With depth taking a major hit, Williams has been called upon to ramp up his production in an expanded playmaking role.

“Coach has really challenged the fives, both of the fives — BG (Brandon Garrison) and Amari — to really step up. When Lamont kind of goes down and Kerr’s down, we need help bringing the ball up and just different looks, kind of, and I feel like Amari is really taking that upon himself,” Carr said. “That’s allowed him to get into a great rhythm these last couple games. Offensively, he’s been able to be such a threat for us, which is amazing. It just adds a whole new level to what we want to do. He’s just been super aggressive and really great for us.”

Would you consider him a point guard at this stage — at least until Butler and Kriisa return?

“I mean, he brings the ball up, right? That could count, right?” Carr joked.

It’s not often you see a 7-foot, 262-pound point guard, but if the shoe fits, right?

“He’s just different,” Oweh added. “He’s what we call a unicorn — someone who can score, handle it, pass it, defend. He is different.”

It’s not just been a challenge from the staff out of injury desperation, though. Part of it is the simple fact his coaches and teammates have always believed in him to be this player.

Now he has the perfect opportunity to go show it — even if it takes some nudging every once in a while. That’s what helps him unleash his inner beast.

“We’ve been telling him all the time, even since the summer, I would always just try to poke his buttons, because I know once he gets mad, he goes crazy,” Oweh said. “He’s just physically dominant. There’s always just times in the game when I say something to get under his skin. I’ll nudge him when I know he’s about to get there, just to make sure he gets over that edge.

“We tell him that all the time, like, ‘You could really be the best big in the country. We know you are. When you play with that chip and that motor, you’re something special.'”

What does poking the bear look like with Amari Williams?

“I just talk smack to him, really. A lot of times in practice, we’re never on the same team, so I just talk to him,” Oweh said. “When we’re in the game, I just tell him a little joke I think will get under (his skin), about where he’s from — because we always talk about where he’s from. Little stuff like that.”

The secret to Williams’ success is finally out: just make him mad.