Mark Pope and Amari Williams continue to learn 'how we function together.'

On paper, Kentucky center Amari Williams has been massive to the program’s success this season.

Advanced stats love his numbers. EvanMiya ranks him as the 34th-best player in the country so far in 2024-25. The seven-footer is averaging 9.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 blocks in just 20.7 minutes per outing. He’s shooting a career-high 55.1 percent on expectedly low volume. But the actual eye test doesn’t always confirm what the stats tell us.

Whether it’s holding onto/dribbling the ball for too long on offense or getting down on himself after a bad possession or two, there is clearly room for improvement. He still coughs the ball up more than twice per game — lower than his career average, but too much for a big man who is a central part of running Mark Pope‘s offense. But Williams has adapted as the season has gone along. Over the last few games, he’s not initiating the offense through penetration nearly as often as he was early in the season. After a four-turnover performance in the loss to Clemson, Williams has just two combined turnovers in the four games since.

Williams is simply a unique player, one that will continue to take time to figure out completely. Getting him to be as aggressive as possible at all times is a common ask from fans online. Pope knows he has something special in Williams — unlocking his full potential is just going to continue to be a process. There’s still a lot of season left to go.

“His defensive rebounding percentage is off the charts. He’s one of the best in the country,” Pope said during his radio show on Monday night. “His full rim protection numbers, when you evaluate all the things together, have been really good. And he still has so much more in the tank to offer. And we’re learning each other. We’re learning how we function together and learning each other. But certainly, he has a lot more in the tank.”

Pope needs Williams to keep improving, especially with his consistency. He’s a vital part piece to Kentucky on both ends of the floor. His playmaking as a seven-footer is rare. There are certainly areas that the Big Blue Nation would like to see more effort in, particularly on defense, but the person who matters most — Coach Pope — has faith that everything will pan out.

“I’m telling you, he’s a beautiful human being and he’s a terrific, terrific talent,” Pope continued. “We’re learning how we function in this system and we’re learning how we function with each other so I still think there is massive, massive upside for him playing for us and the University of Kentucky, the way we’re playing. I’m proud of what he’s done so far and I’m incredibly excited about what he’s going to do moving forward. And that’s the real genuine truth. I think we’re seeing the beginnings of what he can be.”