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Open shots, open doors.(Brief Article)
Jason Williams, who's firing at will and piling up the points, pledged during the season that he would not leave early for the NBA, but his tournament success might lead to a change of heart
Jason Williams' eyes bugged. Shane Battier's already-broad grin broadened. Somebody wanted to know if Williams had been worried about launching a shot after missing his previous nine tries in Duke's 79-69 win over Southern California in the East Region final.
Nine? He missed that many?
"See? He doesn't even believe he missed nine," Battier said, laughing.
It was a huge roles violation. Never ask a shooter whether he thinks he can make his next one. "You're going to miss shots in a ballgame," Williams said. "The one thing I have learned at Duke University is that if you have an open shot, you take it, or you could be hurting the team."
Williams learned it was all right to take open shots long before he landed in Durham. When you have his offensive ability he has, it's crazy not to keep launching them. Few players, if any, in the past few decades have unleashed such a complete offensive game on the college basketball world. Williams can score in just about every way imaginable and then concoct a few that defy mere mortals' hoop dreams. His performance in the Blue Devils' first four NCAA Tournament games--115 points, 23 assists, 51 percent shooting from the field-demonstrates just how dangerous he is. At a time in the season when defenses become nastier and opposition more determined, Williams has gone bonkers.
Now, on the cusp of his first Final Four, Williams might have just two college games remaining to thrill Duke's fans and torment its adversaries. Despite Williams' promise during the season not to leave Duke until his four years of eligibility were up, it is becoming more evident that Williams will head to the NBA after this season. Nearly certain to be one of the first three picks in the June draft--no matter who comes out with him--Williams couldn't raise his value any higher by staying in school.
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...RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ Everything about Jason Williams screams, "Look at me!" Except Jason Williams. From the gaudy tattoos to the streetball...single incident led to a more reserved Jason Williams, it might have been his parting shot last...
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- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Horton, C. Jemal March 23, 2001 700+ words
...championship with only Shane Battier and Jason Williams carrying the scoring load? Logically, no. It can't. But when Williams starts doing the things he did...certificate? Well, that's Jason Williams now. And, at 19, he's usually...
- Jason Williams earns pine time.(Sports)
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Times Knott, Tom May 5, 2000 700+ words
Jason Williams remains a halftime show trapped in a player's uniform. Williams does not want to be a point guard. He...while juggling eight basketballs at once. Williams does not need a basketball coach. He...
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- Magazine article from: Basketball Digest Kertes, Tom December 1, 2001 700+ words
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- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Barnhouse, Wendell February 17, 2002 700+ words
...Durham, a basketball factory?" Jason Williams was ready to become a freshman...Avery's understudy; instead, Williams became Duke's starting point...something you've got to expect," Williams said of the Duke trio's NBA fast...
- Warriors staring at Jason Williams.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Kawakami, Tim March 28, 2001 700+ words
...Calif. _ If sophomore point guard Jason Williams is good enough to lead Duke to...should not diminish appreciation of Williams' prodigious talent and the fortuitous...which could use a savior or two. Williams, if you haven't been paying...
- After `OK' season as freshman, Duke's Jason Williams takes off.(Sports)(College...
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Times Siegel, Jon January 26, 2001 700+ words
DURHAM, N.C. - Jason Williams enjoyed a tremendous freshman season...thought I did just an OK job," said Williams, who averaged 14.5 points and 6...better . . . " This season, though, Williams isn't doing "just an OK job...
- Mavericks see a maturing Jason Williams.
- Newspaper article from: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) June 10, 2006 700+ words
...23 and 37, so they have witnessed Jason Williams' development from different vantage...experienced." While the consensus is that Williams has changed, one of his circumstances has not: Williams still doesn't play much when it counts...