University of Tennessee Athletics
Williams ready to accept leadership role
November 03, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 3, 2010
Josh Pate
UTsports.com
Brian Williams didn't script it this way. Not many people would have. But here he is, set to go into his senior season with the Tennessee basketball team as one of the squad's leaders. Nearly a year ago, it wasn't guaranteed he would be on the team.
Williams was among the four Tennessee players disciplined for involvement in a Jan. 1 incident that resulted in the dismissal of one player and suspension of three others. Williams' suspension lasted the longest at nine games. Once he returned, he made it count.
Before last year's incident, Williams was exclusively a fill-in at the post position. He split time with teammate Kenny Hall at center, both of which backed up the dynamic Wayne Chism. After the incident and serving his penalty, Williams had to work his way back into the floor rotation. He did that. Then he had to re-establish himself as a reliable teammate with the Vols. He did that. Finally, he became a starter.
Williams started the Vols' final 11 games as they made a stretch run that took them to the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals and then to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. Along the way, one of the most consistent Vols was Williams.
"Brian had a great NCAA Tournament last year," said teammate Steven Pearl. "We wouldn't have gotten anywhere without him."
The big man averaged 7.5 points in the tournament (a bucket more than during the regular season) and a team-high 10.3 rebounds. None was bigger than his tip-in basket to put Tennessee ahead of Ohio State with 32 seconds left and ultimately advance the Vols to the Elite Eight.
To revisit Williams' second half of last season only sets the table for what may come this season. Over the summer, in addition to the rigorous workout schedule the team had, Williams attended position camps for big men and battled some of the most versatile paint players in the nation. Remember, Williams came to UT weighing in at around 385 pounds and out of shape. Now, he's trimmed to 272, bumped up his muscle mass, and stepped up his agility. Things like attending summer camps helped.
"Those things opened his eyes and told him he could be special," said Pearl, who filled in extensively in the paint while Williams was suspended last season. "It's really just all on him to put those things together and make himself into something big this year."
Step One was to learn to lead.
"Brian is becoming more vocal and leading by example," Hall said. "He gets me in the weight room. We'll just be sitting around chilling and he comes out of nowhere, saying, `Let's do some push-ups.' He's spreading that to the whole team."
Chalk it up to Leadership 101 he's taken in the Thompson-Boling Arena locker room and on the court.
"I had great leaders to look up to ever since I was a freshman," Williams said. "Chris Lofton, he was not much of a vocal leader but he led by example. Jordan Howell and Ryan Childress, they didn't really get on the court but they led vocally. So I've learned certain aspects of the game from them. Last year, I had Wayne Chism, J.P. Prince, Bobby Maze and Tyler (Smith) for half of the year. I know what to do and what not to do."
On the basketball court, Williams will have his hands full. Position-wise, he is the only center listed in the program. Reality, however, is that up to four others can give him a hand down low. That's a drastic change from last season when Chism banged inside and provided the bulk of the scoring. It left Williams free to collect garbage around the rim and bruise with the big guys for some hard-fought baskets. Without Chism, Williams feels the weight of having to battle even harder for rebounding supremacy in a league that has traditionally had superb bodies in the post area.
Williams isn't about the back down from the challenge. He's been able to bump up his numbers and his physique each season, although they're not flashy; he's a career 4.4 points, 5.1 board guy. But as a senior, Williams doesn't deny he's walking onto the floor this season with a fresh outlook. Compared to where he was one year ago, how can't he?
"Numbers-wise, I've improved since I've been here," Williams said. "My weight has fluctuated, but I think I'm in the best shape of my life right now. My confidence is the best it has ever been. It's my senior year and I'm considered to be one of the leaders on this team, so there are a lot of expectations on me right now. I'm willing to take on these responsibilities."
His teammates are ready to rely on him, too.
"We need Brian to be dominant this year on the inside and get almost a double-double every game," fellow senior Pearl said. "The sky is the limit for Brian. He's making big steps."
