Mason Williams Was Kentucky's Best Guard This Preseason, and Mark Pope Knows It

BBN, three exhibitions are in the books, and the freshman everybody called a package deal has been Kentucky's best guard this preseason. Mason Williams looks like he's been here for years.

Our Take: Mark Pope already trusts Williams when it matters, and the numbers back him up. Whether or not he's in the starting five on opening night, Mason Williams has earned closing minutes. Kentucky is better when he's on the floor.

Per Kentucky Sports Radio's Zack Geoghegan, Williams averaged 14 points in 25.7 minutes across the three exhibitions, shooting 16 of 23 from the field and 6 of 9 from three with just three total turnovers. He was a +42 in the box score. In Wednesday's overtime win over UCF, he played all five minutes of the extra period as Kentucky's lone guard, and both of his assists came in overtime, including a hustle play that set up a wide-open Milan Momcilovic three.

UCF coach Johnny Dawkins was blunt: "He's going to be a terrific, terrific player. He already is." Pope still called him out for getting beat backdoor, but added, "It's fun to watch him grow."

A Sea of Blue's Cameron Waddle points out Williams also has four steals this preseason, and with depth guard Jerone Morton already missing time with an injury, Kentucky is leaning on what's essentially a three-guard rotation.

What to watch: Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins were expected to be the starting backcourt. Watch whether Pope shakes up the lineup for the opener, and whether Williams keeps protecting the ball once the games count.

Sources: Kentucky Sports Radio, A Sea of Blue