Alabama got a huge boost against Kentucky from the most unexpected of players

Heading into Saturday's SEC opener against Kentucky, Alabama center Noah Williamson had been one of the most disappointing players in the country. I don't say that to be overly negative, but to point out the reality that made his performance against the Wildcats all the more stunning.

Williamson was expected to be a major contributor for the Crimson Tide in the frontcourt this season. He was the Patriot League Player of the Year a season ago and was the first pickup in the Transfer Portal for Nate Oats in the offseason.

But through the non-conference schedule, Williamson had been nothing short of a bust. He came into SEC play averaging just over one point per game after averaging 18 per game at Bucknell last season.

But with Aiden Sherrell exiting the game with a knee injury in the first half, Alabama needed Williamson in a big way against a talented and athletic Kentucky frontcourt. And Williamson delivered in far and away his best performance of the season to help the Crimson Tide get an 89-74 win.

After scoring just 14 points in 13 non-conference games, Williamson scored 10 points in 18 minutes against Kentucky. He also added four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

"We don't win the game without him," Oats said about Williamson after the game.

Alabama doesn't beat Kentucky without Noah Williamson stepping up

After what had been such a frustrating year, Williamson's performance ultimately elicited chants of his name by a student section that was just as stunned by what they were seeing as the Kentucky bench and every fan watching at home.

It wasn't just the raw stats; it was how many of them came in critical moments. He helped Alabama stretch its lead to 19 in the first half after corralling an offensive rebound over Kentucky's Jayden Quaintance, which he promptly kicked to the corner for a Houston Mallette three-pointer.

With under four to go and Alabama nursing just an 11-point lead, Williamson came up with a steal on the interior. The next possession for the Tide, Aden Holloway buried the likely dagger three-pointer from 31 feet away to push the lead to 14.

And for good measure, Williamson got a dunk on an assist from Philon to completely shut the door on Kentucky down the stretch.

"I appreciate my coaches and teammates for sticking with me," Williamson said after the game. "I know I had a slow start to the year, but we have a lot of games to go to get to a national championship."

If you need another example of the culture that Oats has built in Tuscaloosa, the video of the Blue Collar Award after the game will show you. It was won by Amari Allen, but the freshman immediately turned around and put it on Williamson's head:

"He’s talented. We just got to get his confidence going," Oats said. "He needed this game in a big way. Huge for him. He did it against maybe the most athletic, biggest, toughest, for sure the most hyped in the preseason frontcourt in our league."