Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope has revealed an unusual request that helped his team advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. According to Pope, center Amari Williams’ request for a traditional English breakfast cereal called Weetabix helped fuel the team’s 84-75 win over Illinois.
Williams, who hails from Nottingham, England, had told Pope and the coaching staff that he usually eats Weetabix for breakfast. The staff managed to find boxes of the cereal at an international store in Milwaukee, and Williams ate three bowls of it alongside Pope and teammate Brandon Garrison.
Williams credited the Weetabix for his strong performance against Illinois, which included 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Pope joked that the cereal might become a regular part of the team’s breakfast routine.
The Wildcats’ win over Illinois marked their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019. They will face off against Michigan State in the regional semifinals on Thursday.
Kentucky’s Director of Basketball Administration Will Barton was instrumental in finding the Weetabix, and Williams expressed his gratitude to Barton and the coaching staff for accommodating his unusual request.
The story of Williams’ Weetabix-fueled performance has gone viral, with many fans and commentators praising the team’s commitment to supporting their players’ unique needs.
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