Have to give it to Williams

[silentsaregolden2.0]

As much as I was dogging him for most of this game, which he deserved, he came through late. I was worried every time he touched it, but he didn't turn it over down the stretch (I don't think), and actually made some shots. Let's pray he was just in a funk for a few game and is coming out of it.

 

[megablue]

Yes. He did. He was there for ooops late and they didn’t get it to hm, too.

 

[JRCAT14]

As much as I was dogging him for most of this game, which he deserved, he came through late. I was worried every time he touched it, but he didn't turn it over down the stretch (I don't think), and actually made some shots. Let's pray he was just in a funk for a few game and is coming out of it.

He deserved the criticism for his effort in the first half and the time spent on the bench watching Garrison at least give the effort that he should have been giving, maybe, just maybe inspired him a tad.

 

[bnewt]

Would have been great to win the game with an alley oop dunk

 

[otis-gip]

Big guy on Gonzaga is very good and an old school post player. He really punishes defenders. I thought our guys battled him in the second half and wore him down. The zone also messed him up. Nice move by Coach Pope.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Williams showed life down the stretch in the final 10 minutes and OT. Finished the game with 12 points and 2 blocks. Start putting these minutes together for an entire game and he will be a force. Garrison before to start the run game the Cats some really good minutes and can tell Pope is really starting to trust him more.

 

[RunninRichie]

Williams showed life down the stretch in the final 10 minutes and OT. Finished the game with 12 points and 2 blocks. Start putting these minutes together for an entire game and he will be a force. Garrison before to start the run game the Cats some really good minutes and can tell Pope is really starting to trust him more.

Williams was a force against Duke.

 

[JPFisher]

Also made his free throws. Hopefully, he's getting better in that area. The hack-a-Shaq style teams throw at us because we can't hit from the stripe is getting old real quick.

 

[Basscat1987]

Williams doesent decide to play until there’s 10 minutes left in the game. It frustrates the hell out of me. But at the end of the day if we get the win I completely forget about it

 

[fisherscatfan]

As much as I was dogging him for most of this game, which he deserved, he came through late. I was worried every time he touched it, but he didn't turn it over down the stretch (I don't think), and actually made some shots. Let's pray he was just in a funk for a few game and is coming out of it.

I was exactly the same way. He needs to gives the level of effort he did in OT. He’s lucky played really well in OT. But his effort up until then left something to be desired. Hopefully Pope, Garrison and Carr lit a fire in him.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Williams was a force against Duke.

Yes, but we need to see that effort and how he played down the stretch on a consistent basis.

 

[Stretch98]

Hit two very clutch free throws. Also ran the court to receive Robinson's long pass for a huge basket.

 

[RunninRichie]

Yes, but we need to see that effort and how he played down the stretch on a consistent basis.

I agree. I was just pointing out he has that in him. To be a consistent force. It's just a motor issue with him. Tre Mitchell was similar.

 

[MonsterMash79]

As much as I was dogging him for most of this game, which he deserved, he came through late. I was worried every time he touched it, but he didn't turn it over down the stretch (I don't think), and actually made some shots. Let's pray he was just in a funk for a few game and is coming out of it.

Right there with ya.

 

[ukypug]

He seemed very timid in the first half. Turned on beast mode in the end.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

I agree. I was just pointing out he has that in him. To be a consistent force. It's just a motor issue with him. Tre Mitchell was similar.

Well said, reminds me a bit of WCS with the skills and athleticism but some inconsistency at times. Amari certainly has shown to do it for the course of a season as a 3-time defensive player of the year. Definitely has it in him.

 

[FiveStarCat]

I feel bad for ripping him first half because he was massive down the stretch. If he plays like that for an entire game, we are very very dangerous. I mean hell we already kinda are with two of the best wins of the season

 

[fisherscatfan]

I feel bad for ripping him first half because he was massive down the stretch. If he plays like that for an entire game, we are very very dangerous. I mean hell we already kinda are with two of the best wins of the season

I understand but Williams has to be much more engaged from the tip. The opening tip he seriously just conceded and didn’t even jump.

 

[Lempface]

He was so bad early, and I'm willing to say the majority of our first half problems were from his lazy play. But he did get his head screwed on straight down the stretch, great to see.

 

[Fox2monk]

As much as I was dogging him for most of this game, which he deserved, he came through late. I was worried every time he touched it, but he didn't turn it over down the stretch (I don't think), and actually made some shots. Let's pray he was just in a funk for a few game and is coming out of it.

Yeah he did, good job big man. We love ya we just want you to play to your potential. Way to turn it around.

 

[kywildcatsfannumber1]

Those free throws made by Williams were huge. It reminded me in 2015 with one of the worst free throw shooters, Dakari Johnson nailed those clutch free throws on the road vs Texas A&M to pull out that close road win.

 

[Stretch98]

Amari's block on Gregg's dunk attempt early in OT led to Oweh's dunk at the other end, a four point turnaround that gave UK the lead for good.

 

[ala_kat2]

I understand but Williams has to be much more engaged from the tip. The opening tip he seriously just conceded and didn’t even jump.

Right, and Williams should get more rebounds than he does. But, big contribution late in game at Gonzaga.

 

[Runnin'Ramel]

His only offense should be dunks / assists. Tries to back his man down too much and it just doesn’t work against a non-cupcake.

 

[TFCats11]

Williams shutting down that 17 year old for Duke on that late play has a lot of grace for him as far as I’m concerned!

Him and Garrison are going to be a problem for many teams.

 

[fatguy87]

I've been down on Williams and the 5's more generally in how they fit in what Pope was trying to have the team do offensively. Williams in particular had been a bit of a black hole against defensive teams. He certainly flipped the script in the last 1/4 of the game. He was solid down the stretch. Garrison played well through out his minutes too.

 

[Lost In FL]

Big guy on Gonzaga is very good and an old school post player. He really punishes defenders. I thought our guys battled him in the second half and wore him down. The zone also messed him up. Nice move by Coach Pope.

Pope outcoached Few in the 2half. Isn't it nice to have a coach that can make adjustments?!?

 

[Lost In FL]

I feel bad for ripping him first half because he was massive down the stretch. If he plays like that for an entire game, we are very very dangerous. I mean hell we already kinda are with two of the best wins of the season

Without a coaching change and complete roster turnover, UK is 5-4 (Ls to Duke, Clemson, Zags and WKU)

Edit ... given there may not be 1 AA on the roster, then this HAS to be the best TEAM bar none. JMO.

 

[Mike_Edwards]

Motor on Williams could earn a living at the next level playing basketball. What’s wrong with him Williams better hope he has a solid major. We’ve seen both so far. Just gotta hope we see more motor on than off.

 

[jwphelps]

As much as I was dogging him for most of this game, which he deserved, he came through late. I was worried every time he touched it, but he didn't turn it over down the stretch (I don't think), and actually made some shots. Let's pray he was just in a funk for a few game and is coming out of it.

He got two of the tackiest fouls called on him that sat him on the bench for some time. I thought IKE was a very physical player who got a lot of touch fouls called against UK that were not called on the other end.

 

[YardCat]

As much as I was dogging him for most of this game, which he deserved, he came through late. I was worried every time he touched it, but he didn't turn it over down the stretch (I don't think), and actually made some shots. Let's pray he was just in a funk for a few game and is coming out of it.

I’m the same, he was MIA in the first half, especially on defense. He needed a good second half for the team to win. Would love to see him play hard all game.

 

[B.B.H.]

As much as I was dogging him for most of this game, which he deserved, he came through late. I was worried every time he touched it, but he didn't turn it over down the stretch (I don't think), and actually made some shots. Let's pray he was just in a funk for a few game and is coming out of it.

Or…quit dogging the players to start with. They play for our team and we should support them.

 

[otis-gip]

Pope outcoached Few in the 2half. Isn't it nice to have a coach that can make adjustments?!?

It is when the adjustments work!

 

[BigBlueManSouthCentralKY]

That man sized block on Gregg was huge, helped us keep rolling.

 

[Basscat1987]

I watched a clip of him walking off the court after the win looking up and the crowd and said something like “man this is crazy”. Said it twice. I still don’t think he understands how much basketball means to us. Maybe when/if he does, he’ll give way more effort through the game instead of just crunch time.

 

[Deli owl]

Just have him stick to passes, blocked shots, dunks. He gets in trouble when he shoot’s or dribbles backwards down the lane