For Kentucky’s Amari Williams, the battle against Arkansas may have ended in a loss, but it may have sparked something even greater—a transformation into the most dominant version of himself. His teammates believe they’re witnessing the rise of the best big man in college basketball, and the numbers back it up.
Williams was nothing short of unstoppable against the Razorbacks, delivering a monstrous performance with a season-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 11 rebounds, three assists, and a steal in just 26 minutes of action. It was the kind of performance that left fans, opponents, and even his teammates in awe. Whether he was sealing off defenders in the post or bulldozing his way to the rim, he played like a man on a mission—one that nobody could stop.
At one point, after finishing a tough shot over former Wildcat Zvonimir Ivisic, Rupp Arena erupted into a “Who’s your daddy?” chant. Williams had officially taken over, and his teammates were just as amazed as the crowd.
“He’s just different,” said Otega Oweh. “Watching him play in person is a whole different experience. He’s bigger, stronger, and more dominant than you realize until you’re right there next to him. It’s insane.”
But here’s the kicker—this dominant version of Amari Williams has been quietly building for weeks. He’s been a force in Kentucky’s toughest matchups, posting double-doubles against Florida, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Tennessee. However, in two of Kentucky’s worst losses—against Georgia and Vanderbilt—he was nearly invisible, combining for just eight points and 10 rebounds.
So what’s been the difference? What flips the switch?
The Formula for Dominance
According to Andrew Carr, it all comes down to mindset.
“He’s always been ridiculously strong, but lately, he’s been taking his time, getting to his spots, and finishing through defenders instead of fading away,” Carr explained. “We’ve been pushing him all summer to embrace his power, and now it’s starting to show. He’s playing aggressive, and we need that from him.”
With injuries piling up for Kentucky—Lamont Butler sidelined with a shoulder injury, Kerr Kriisa out indefinitely with a broken foot, and Carr himself dealing with back issues—Williams has been asked to do even more. Not just scoring, but also facilitating, helping bring the ball up the court, and being the anchor of both ends of the floor.
“Coach has challenged Amari and BG (Brandon Garrison) to step up big time,” Carr added. “With our backcourt banged up, he’s had to play a bigger role, and he’s been incredible. He’s doing everything for us right now.”
A 7-Foot Point Guard?
Williams has even taken on some unexpected duties—bringing the ball up the court. When asked if he should now be considered a point guard, Carr couldn’t help but laugh.
“I mean, he brings the ball up sometimes… so yeah, let’s call him that!” he joked.
A 7-foot, 262-pound point guard? Why not? If Williams keeps playing like this, he can be whatever he wants.
Fueling the Fire
But the real secret to unlocking Williams’ dominance? His teammates have figured it out: make him mad.
“We’ve been telling him since the summer—when you play angry, you’re the best big in the country,” Oweh said. “Sometimes I have to push his buttons, just to make sure he gets there.”
So how does he do it? Trash talk. A little nudge here and there. Maybe a joke about where he’s from. Anything to poke the bear and bring out the monster inside.
“The moment he plays with a chip on his shoulder, it’s over,” Oweh continued. “He’s physically dominant. He’s different.”
Now, the question isn’t whether Amari Williams can be one of the best big men in college basketball. The question is, how far can this beast carry Kentucky?
