I have seen a lot of Amari Williams criticism in threads lately. I like his game a lot, fully acknowledging it isn’t perfect. I guess I am surprised how critical folks are of him.
I was bored tonight so did a deep dive. Apologies for wordiness, please feel free to skip.
The premise: Which SEC big guys are you taking over Amari? Each team’s starting center is considered. My answer: Not many.
Amari stats (for comparison): 9.9/8.4/2.6, 58% FG, 1.6 Blocks, positive A/TO. Most analytics I have looked at rate his impact positively.
Auburn: Dylan Cardwell. 5.5/4.6/1.8, good FG%, 1.5 BPG. I would take Amari.
Alabama: Cliff Omoruyi. 7.4/6.4/.8, 74%(!!!) FG%, 1.1 BPG. In a vacuum I think Omoruyi is better, but Amari probably fits UK better stylistically. Toss up, lean Omoruyi.
Ole Miss: Malik Dia. Looks like they play small. 8.7/5.8/.9, FG% under 50, less than 1 BPG. I am taking Amari.
Florida: Rueben Chinyelu. 5.3/7.3/.9, 58% FG, 1.2 BPG. Have been impressed, think he is better than #’s say. Doing this in 19 mpg. Lean Amari, but I think Chinyelu is really good and has a very bright future.
Georgia: RJ Godfrey. 6.6/4.6/1.2, 52% FG, .7 BPG. Undersized and splits minutes with Somto, who I think is better. Amari is better.
Tennessee: Felix Okpara. 7.1/6.1/.3, 61% FG, 1.5 BPG. Give me Amari.
Mississippi State: Michael Nwoko. 7.3/4.9/.5, 57% FG, 1.1 BPG. Thought he played well against us but Amari is better.
Missouri: Trent Pierce. 8.4/2.9/.5, 52% FG, .3 BPG. Amari easily.
Texas A&M: Henry Coleman (A&M appears to start small like Ole Miss does). 8.6/5.3/.4, 58% FG, 0.0 (???) BPG. Not really comparable players (Payne who they bring off the bench is 8.9/4.8/.4). Give me Amari.
Vanderbilt: Devin McGlockton (see Ole Miss and A&M). 10.9/8.3/.9, 65% FG, 1.5 BPG. Good, unique player. Very undersized. I lean Amari, but if you wanted to play small, seems like you could make a great case for McGlockton.
Oklahoma: Sam Goodwin. 6.6/6.2/1.0, 61% FG, .8 BPG. Amari is better.
Arkansas: Take your pick of their big guys. They last started Jonas Aidoo. 6.2/4.5/.5, 58% FG, 1.3 BPG. Hasn’t been healthy but I would lean Amari even at full heath.
LSU: old friend Damion Collins! 8.4/4.4/.4, 64% FG, 1.6 BPG. Happy he has been healthy and found a role. I’d take Amari.
Texas: Kadin Shedrick. 8.2/5.9/.5, 56% FG, 1.8 BPG. Really good rim protector, not very skilled. Amari.
South Carolina: Nick Pringle. 10.7/6.6/1.4, 64% FG, .8 BPG. I have thought he is good when I have watched. I think Amari is a better rebounder/passer. Lean Amari.
If you have made it this far in the thread, dear reader, I commend you. I am sure I have made errors transcribing stats, or who may start more frequently at places, or even positionally. If you count Johni Broome as Auburn’s center or Collin Murray Boyles as South Carolina’s, I’d obviously take them over Amari.
But my point is I think Amari is a better player than we are generally giving him credit for, especially when you put him up against his SEC counterparts in what is considered this year’s best basketball conference.
I was bored tonight so did a deep dive. Apologies for wordiness, please feel free to skip.
The premise: Which SEC big guys are you taking over Amari? Each team’s starting center is considered. My answer: Not many.
Amari stats (for comparison): 9.9/8.4/2.6, 58% FG, 1.6 Blocks, positive A/TO. Most analytics I have looked at rate his impact positively.
Auburn: Dylan Cardwell. 5.5/4.6/1.8, good FG%, 1.5 BPG. I would take Amari.
Alabama: Cliff Omoruyi. 7.4/6.4/.8, 74%(!!!) FG%, 1.1 BPG. In a vacuum I think Omoruyi is better, but Amari probably fits UK better stylistically. Toss up, lean Omoruyi.
Ole Miss: Malik Dia. Looks like they play small. 8.7/5.8/.9, FG% under 50, less than 1 BPG. I am taking Amari.
Florida: Rueben Chinyelu. 5.3/7.3/.9, 58% FG, 1.2 BPG. Have been impressed, think he is better than #’s say. Doing this in 19 mpg. Lean Amari, but I think Chinyelu is really good and has a very bright future.
Georgia: RJ Godfrey. 6.6/4.6/1.2, 52% FG, .7 BPG. Undersized and splits minutes with Somto, who I think is better. Amari is better.
Tennessee: Felix Okpara. 7.1/6.1/.3, 61% FG, 1.5 BPG. Give me Amari.
Mississippi State: Michael Nwoko. 7.3/4.9/.5, 57% FG, 1.1 BPG. Thought he played well against us but Amari is better.
Missouri: Trent Pierce. 8.4/2.9/.5, 52% FG, .3 BPG. Amari easily.
Texas A&M: Henry Coleman (A&M appears to start small like Ole Miss does). 8.6/5.3/.4, 58% FG, 0.0 (???) BPG. Not really comparable players (Payne who they bring off the bench is 8.9/4.8/.4). Give me Amari.
Vanderbilt: Devin McGlockton (see Ole Miss and A&M). 10.9/8.3/.9, 65% FG, 1.5 BPG. Good, unique player. Very undersized. I lean Amari, but if you wanted to play small, seems like you could make a great case for McGlockton.
Oklahoma: Sam Goodwin. 6.6/6.2/1.0, 61% FG, .8 BPG. Amari is better.
Arkansas: Take your pick of their big guys. They last started Jonas Aidoo. 6.2/4.5/.5, 58% FG, 1.3 BPG. Hasn’t been healthy but I would lean Amari even at full heath.
LSU: old friend Damion Collins! 8.4/4.4/.4, 64% FG, 1.6 BPG. Happy he has been healthy and found a role. I’d take Amari.
Texas: Kadin Shedrick. 8.2/5.9/.5, 56% FG, 1.8 BPG. Really good rim protector, not very skilled. Amari.
South Carolina: Nick Pringle. 10.7/6.6/1.4, 64% FG, .8 BPG. I have thought he is good when I have watched. I think Amari is a better rebounder/passer. Lean Amari.
If you have made it this far in the thread, dear reader, I commend you. I am sure I have made errors transcribing stats, or who may start more frequently at places, or even positionally. If you count Johni Broome as Auburn’s center or Collin Murray Boyles as South Carolina’s, I’d obviously take them over Amari.
But my point is I think Amari is a better player than we are generally giving him credit for, especially when you put him up against his SEC counterparts in what is considered this year’s best basketball conference.
