In order to win in the sport of basketball, you must do the little things. This includes making free throws when it counts. And keeping a precious handle of the ball. And not committing five-second violations or lazily jogging back on defense.
Tonight we did not do the little things and you can see why we lost. I know we're a young team but many of these careless errors were the fault of upperclassmen and a general lack of leadership. I can't say that guys like Jordan Weethee and Brian Brown aren't good players, because they are. But they simply aren't leaders. Not everyone is supposed to be a leader but someone has to do it. We're only two games in but what I've seen so far from the guys is not encouraging.
The game ball tonight has to go to Julian Eleby. Twenty points, the leading scorer, and an obvious career high for him. Only 6 of 16 shooting but 3 of 6 from long-range to go along with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Phil had a great game as well with 13 points, incredibly on 6 of 7 shooting. Perhaps he read my last blog post and set out to prove me wrong.
Jordan had a solid 8/4/2 line. Marshall chipped in 9, all from distance. Fred got his first two collegiate points. And QJ was QJ (though his shooting touch was a bit off).
I was disappointed with the performance of Brian. I noted before the season began that BB's biggest problem last season and throughout his career was inconsistency. Tonight he was 3 of 9 from the field and laid an egg in the three-point shooting department. A grand total of six points and zero assists is well short of what we need out of him. Same goes to Watson who contributed nearly nothing in 25 minutes.
As a team we shot 44% overall and 38% from behind the arc. Not shabby, but the defensive end is where our struggles lie. It's no wonder why Army (and The Citadel) shot 55% in these two games. We have no legitimate rim protector and essentially any opponent attack at the basket will result in either a foul or a made shot. You can catch a team when they are cold from deep (and we did tonight; Army connected on only 26% of their threes) but you can't fail to execute down low because teams, especially tall teams, will exploit that weakness 100% of the time. Duggar can teach players all about the art of rim protection but he can't teach them how to be tall. Expect this problem to continue throughout the season.
The opening weekend of college basketball is just about over and we sit here at 1-1. We could be 2-0. We should be 0-2. In any case, our guys have some work to do. Secure rebounds, take care of the ball, and make smart shots. We have a game on Tuesday against Johnson Univ. and an opportunity to get some reps and see some young players get playing time. On Saturday we have a tough UNC Wilmington team coming to Cameron, and if the last two games are any indication, we need to get our act together.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Friday, November 14, 2014
Postgame Thoughts: The Citadel
I hate jumping to conclusions one game into the season, so I'll try to keep it low-key....but how about Trey Chapman? The most unlikely of suspects nails a three-pointer to send the Keydets to their third championship appearance in four All-Military Classics.
I'll start with the positives. Or negatives? Nah, positives it is. Our rebounding tonight was superb; 31-22 advantage will win you a lot of games (and we beat them 12-4 on the offensive side, another plus). That's especially impressive considering the fact that Horgan, White, and Koopman are taller than everyone on our team. Clearly the five-man gang-up rebounding strategy is working.
We made 45% of our shots, bested by The Citadel's crisp 55% shooting. The difference? We attempted sixteen more shots, facilitated by our sizable rebounding advantage. Making nine more three-pointers helped too. Not sure why The Citadel didn't try more.
Individually, QJ scored a calm 25. Overall his shooting wasn't bad but from long range it was terrible - 3 of 11 is not what Coach Baucom or anyone on the staff expects out of him. The five assists are encouraging, but 4 PF's is a no-no. And it seemed like he fatigued late in the game. B+ for QJ tonight.
Game ball goes to Brian Brown - 6 of 9 shooting, 4/7 from three, 16 points in all in only twenty-four minutes. And not a single foul. Yeah yeah, Trey made the game-winning three, but Brian made four of them. He is the glue of this team. And speaking of Trey, what are the odds that a guy who shot 21% from deep his freshman year would knock down his only three-point attempt of the game in a do-or-die situation? Statistically speaking, it was a so-so game from Chap. Five points, three boards (all offensive), an assist and steal. A solid effort, but I'd hope for more the rest of the way.
Great game by Weethee. Only 9 points but the eight rebounds were huge. Phil also led in that category with nine of his own, and three blocks too. Defensively Phil's a monster but he needs to work on finishing at the rim. He missed a layup and two short jumpers which could've cost us the game were it not for Trey's heroics. I thought that was a consistent problem throughout the team but it's hard to tell with no video.
Only team negative I can see is in the free throws. Not the percentage, like we're used to seeing, but rather the attempts - only four trips to the line. I can't quite tell if that's a testament to the Bulldogs' defense or an obvious hint at our lack of physical aggressiveness. El Cid went to the line twenty-two times and you can see why the game was this close.
I would also have liked to have seen a better performance from Jarid. Two points + one block in sixteen minutes is poor, but what you'd expect from a guy with minimal game experience. As the season progresses, Jarid should see continued playing time and improve, but with such a lean build and unimposing stature it's hard to see him being reckoned with as a dominant post presence. Armani got a couple of minutes and hit on his only shot, and Eleby hit a three. Nothing from Tim Marshall, which was disappointing. As expected, Tyrell Mason, Fred Iruafemi, and Christian Burton did not see any action. Not sure where Craig was.
So we are now 1-0. Can't say too much about this game other than that fact. And that we have a chance to claim a second AMC title with a win tomorrow. Can we survive without a true point guard? Can we survive without a true post player? Is our bench deep enough to help us win games? At this point I don't know. I do know, however, that Army is currently taking Air Force to the woodshed and if the score holds up, we have some work cut out for us in the title game tomorrow.
I'll start with the positives. Or negatives? Nah, positives it is. Our rebounding tonight was superb; 31-22 advantage will win you a lot of games (and we beat them 12-4 on the offensive side, another plus). That's especially impressive considering the fact that Horgan, White, and Koopman are taller than everyone on our team. Clearly the five-man gang-up rebounding strategy is working.
We made 45% of our shots, bested by The Citadel's crisp 55% shooting. The difference? We attempted sixteen more shots, facilitated by our sizable rebounding advantage. Making nine more three-pointers helped too. Not sure why The Citadel didn't try more.
Individually, QJ scored a calm 25. Overall his shooting wasn't bad but from long range it was terrible - 3 of 11 is not what Coach Baucom or anyone on the staff expects out of him. The five assists are encouraging, but 4 PF's is a no-no. And it seemed like he fatigued late in the game. B+ for QJ tonight.
Game ball goes to Brian Brown - 6 of 9 shooting, 4/7 from three, 16 points in all in only twenty-four minutes. And not a single foul. Yeah yeah, Trey made the game-winning three, but Brian made four of them. He is the glue of this team. And speaking of Trey, what are the odds that a guy who shot 21% from deep his freshman year would knock down his only three-point attempt of the game in a do-or-die situation? Statistically speaking, it was a so-so game from Chap. Five points, three boards (all offensive), an assist and steal. A solid effort, but I'd hope for more the rest of the way.
Great game by Weethee. Only 9 points but the eight rebounds were huge. Phil also led in that category with nine of his own, and three blocks too. Defensively Phil's a monster but he needs to work on finishing at the rim. He missed a layup and two short jumpers which could've cost us the game were it not for Trey's heroics. I thought that was a consistent problem throughout the team but it's hard to tell with no video.
Only team negative I can see is in the free throws. Not the percentage, like we're used to seeing, but rather the attempts - only four trips to the line. I can't quite tell if that's a testament to the Bulldogs' defense or an obvious hint at our lack of physical aggressiveness. El Cid went to the line twenty-two times and you can see why the game was this close.
I would also have liked to have seen a better performance from Jarid. Two points + one block in sixteen minutes is poor, but what you'd expect from a guy with minimal game experience. As the season progresses, Jarid should see continued playing time and improve, but with such a lean build and unimposing stature it's hard to see him being reckoned with as a dominant post presence. Armani got a couple of minutes and hit on his only shot, and Eleby hit a three. Nothing from Tim Marshall, which was disappointing. As expected, Tyrell Mason, Fred Iruafemi, and Christian Burton did not see any action. Not sure where Craig was.
So we are now 1-0. Can't say too much about this game other than that fact. And that we have a chance to claim a second AMC title with a win tomorrow. Can we survive without a true point guard? Can we survive without a true post player? Is our bench deep enough to help us win games? At this point I don't know. I do know, however, that Army is currently taking Air Force to the woodshed and if the score holds up, we have some work cut out for us in the title game tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Guard Troubles
Whether we like it or not, Jon Elmore (and brother Ot) will not be playing Keydet basketball in 2014-15. Not this year, and maybe not ever. An optimist will always hold out hope that they'll return, and it even makes since given the circumstances. But in the meantime, there are thirteen men who committed to playing basketball for VMI and there is no need to dwell on those who chose a different path.
But if we must, I might start by saying that losing Ot is hardly a big deal. He was redshirted for a reason, and would've had to compete with QJ, Brown, Marshall, and Eleby to get any playing time. He is a third-string bench player and that's that. It's Jon that we should be worried about.
Not often does an athlete who was ranked as the eighth-best player in his state, and received twenty-two scholarships offers, some from the A-10 and ACC, choose VMI over anywhere that might get him fame and publicity. Jon was a unique talent, possibly even better than QJ at his position. And the son of a VMI Hall of Famer? This is a devastating blow for the team.
Herein lies the obvious dilemma for Coach Baucom this season: who starts at the point? It's a bigger deal than you'd think. The point guard has to run the offense. He has to set up his teammates. He must recognize the weaknesses of the defense and utilize the strengths of the offense. He knows when to pass and when to take it himself.
Is QJ the man for the job? Based on last season, I'd say no. Four times last season he scored fewer then ten points, and two of those came in the CIT. His performances against Ohio and Yale were horrid, and he often went for erratic and untimely shots. His assist totals were nothing to gawk at, though admittedly his role did not demand that he be the play-maker.
Eleby? Too tall, speed and dribble-drive skills aren't there. Marshall? Not the guy. His persona doesn't scream "playmaker" and he's chiefly a two guard, nothing more. Burton? Not a chance. Virtually no game experience, and the stats (though of a small sample size) don't indicate that he has the potential to lead this team.
Thus, we are left with Brian Brown. I like his demeanor and it seems like he really wants to win. Obviously, we have no one close to capable of replicating what Glasgow did last year. This would be true even if Elmore stayed. But someone has to step up, and all signs point toward Brian being the guy. His scoring and shooting percentage dipped from last season, but mostly because of Peterson's presence. What didn't drop, however, were the assists: 23 up from his sophomore year in only two more games played. If you're searching for a point guard, that's what you like to see.
There are still underlying problems in this scenario. Last season, Brian was a guy who might drain a couple threes and kick an opponent when they aren't looking, but for much of the year, his game was off. BB scored 10+ points in only ten games, and sometimes it seemed as though he was nonexistent. And if there's one thing a coach needs out of a PG, it's consistency, first and foremost.
In any case, Coach Baucom and staff are going to have a whale of a time figuring out our lineup in the little time they have to prepare for the All-Military Classic. The bottom line is that someone needs to step up and lead the team. I think it'll happen, but as for who I can't say. Nevertheless, a decision must be made and we will see that decision on Friday.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Starting Lineup Projections
I haven't posted in quite some time so I figured it'd be worthwhile to give my take on the starting lineup for the All-Military Classic at West Point this November. It's been a pretty quick off-season (at least for me), given the success of last year's team...and the fact that they played all the way into April added another month to what would've been a crushing Big South tourney loss.
It would be quite an understatement to say replacing Rodney Glasgow and D.J. Covington will be difficult. In fact it will be impossible. There is no one on this team, as far as I know, who is capable of producing what those two produced this past season at their respective positions. That is not to say the future looks bleak. Let's take a look.
PG: Jon Elmore, Freshman
From what I've heard around town it seems this guy is the real deal. Amazing right, for a guy that's never played a single collegiate game? Nevertheless, Jon averaged 19.5 points per game in his senior year for Christ School, and was also first in steals and assists on that team. It's very rare that a Rat would find himself in the Starting 5 beginning the season, but Jon will more than likely find himself in that position,
SG: QJ Peterson
Obvious choice here. QJ easily matched and surpassed his preseason expectations last year, averaging 19.0 PPG for the season along with 5.6 rebounds and a 32% shooting mark from beyond the arc. He faded a bit as the season progressed, especially in the Ohio and Yale games where he chucked up bricks off forced and unbalanced shots. But last season is done and the future looks very bright for him.
SG: Brian Brown
Throughout most of his career Duggar has generally gone with a three-guard lineup, save for late-game situations when he needs the height. Brian (aka B.B.) will fit the bill quite nicely. Last season he averaged 6.8 PPG (tops among our non-"Big 3" players) and shot 33% from three. His main problem was inconsistency, as there were many games where he had absolutely nothing going (Citadel, AFA, Bridgewater,VUL, LwU, HPU, and a couple others). On the upside Brian kept us in a lot games with the three-ball: he hit 4+ against Wright State, GWU, CSU, and CCU. If he can get that percentage up to a Glasgow-like 39%, Brian will be a critical asset to a team that needs all the scoring they can get.
F: Jordan Weethee
I'm going on a hunch here because Weethee wasn't in the starting lineup in any game past November last year, but he's 6'6 and a senior so, might as well. Actually he averaged 6.7/3.7/0.9 which is decent for a guy who gets fair playing time. Of course he absolutely dominated the Military Classic and did some other things too, but after that he just kinda faded away. I'd like to see him play like I know he can.
F: Phillip Anglade
Honestly Anglade isn't even listed as a center on the roster so I won't call him a center, but for all intents and purposes, he's a center. It was interesting last season that Anglade was a starter basically all of the second half of the season, yet Duggar tended to take him out fairly quickly. Phil averaged slightly over 15 minutes/game, and scored 3.4 PPG in that time. He is used mostly for his physicality, but needs to clean up the fouling: 87 person fouls last season (second only to Covington). Expect him to rotate around with Craig Hinton, Armani Branch, Trey Chapman, and Jarid Watson.
Primary Bench: Branch, Chapman, Hinton, Watson, Tim Marshall
Secondary Bench: Ot Elmore, Fred Iruafemi, Tyrell Mason, Julian Eleby, Christian Burton
It would be quite an understatement to say replacing Rodney Glasgow and D.J. Covington will be difficult. In fact it will be impossible. There is no one on this team, as far as I know, who is capable of producing what those two produced this past season at their respective positions. That is not to say the future looks bleak. Let's take a look.
PG: Jon Elmore, Freshman
From what I've heard around town it seems this guy is the real deal. Amazing right, for a guy that's never played a single collegiate game? Nevertheless, Jon averaged 19.5 points per game in his senior year for Christ School, and was also first in steals and assists on that team. It's very rare that a Rat would find himself in the Starting 5 beginning the season, but Jon will more than likely find himself in that position,
SG: QJ Peterson
Obvious choice here. QJ easily matched and surpassed his preseason expectations last year, averaging 19.0 PPG for the season along with 5.6 rebounds and a 32% shooting mark from beyond the arc. He faded a bit as the season progressed, especially in the Ohio and Yale games where he chucked up bricks off forced and unbalanced shots. But last season is done and the future looks very bright for him.
SG: Brian Brown
Throughout most of his career Duggar has generally gone with a three-guard lineup, save for late-game situations when he needs the height. Brian (aka B.B.) will fit the bill quite nicely. Last season he averaged 6.8 PPG (tops among our non-"Big 3" players) and shot 33% from three. His main problem was inconsistency, as there were many games where he had absolutely nothing going (Citadel, AFA, Bridgewater,VUL, LwU, HPU, and a couple others). On the upside Brian kept us in a lot games with the three-ball: he hit 4+ against Wright State, GWU, CSU, and CCU. If he can get that percentage up to a Glasgow-like 39%, Brian will be a critical asset to a team that needs all the scoring they can get.
F: Jordan Weethee
I'm going on a hunch here because Weethee wasn't in the starting lineup in any game past November last year, but he's 6'6 and a senior so, might as well. Actually he averaged 6.7/3.7/0.9 which is decent for a guy who gets fair playing time. Of course he absolutely dominated the Military Classic and did some other things too, but after that he just kinda faded away. I'd like to see him play like I know he can.
F: Phillip Anglade
Honestly Anglade isn't even listed as a center on the roster so I won't call him a center, but for all intents and purposes, he's a center. It was interesting last season that Anglade was a starter basically all of the second half of the season, yet Duggar tended to take him out fairly quickly. Phil averaged slightly over 15 minutes/game, and scored 3.4 PPG in that time. He is used mostly for his physicality, but needs to clean up the fouling: 87 person fouls last season (second only to Covington). Expect him to rotate around with Craig Hinton, Armani Branch, Trey Chapman, and Jarid Watson.
Primary Bench: Branch, Chapman, Hinton, Watson, Tim Marshall
Secondary Bench: Ot Elmore, Fred Iruafemi, Tyrell Mason, Julian Eleby, Christian Burton
Thursday, August 28, 2014
NCAA Logo Tournament Challenge
For anyone who hasn't heard through social media, the Connecticut-based website SportzEdge.com has been hosting an NCAA Tournament-style logo challenge, where fans vote for the best team logos in the country.
It is formatted so that the team with the most votes from each of the 32 conferences will be given an "automatic bid" to the Round of 64, and the 32 highest vote-getting schools after that, regardless of conference affiliation, will receive an "at-large" bid.
Teams from FCS conferences and other small conferences have been doing quite well in this contest: from the old Big South, UNC Asheville, Winthrop, Longwood, and Campbell made it past the conference stage; not to mention The Citadel, Wofford, Western Carolina, and of course VMI, who passed with a modest 123,000 votes.... it would be an understatement to say our fans came out in full force (you can see the overwhelming results here).
Now the First Round of the tournament is upon us, and we are up against the Texas Longhorns, the logo of whom is one of the most recognizable cattle in the country. They also have the largest athletic budget in the country at over $210M, though luckily, that won't help them out here. At this point we are winning with ease (perhaps thanks to some Aggies and Red Raiders), and barring some unforeseen Longhorn infestation, we should cruise through this round. This support comes despite a rather unfavorable view from the pollsters, who criticized the logo for its blandness and lack of creativeness (which, from a distance is fair, but they may have forgotten to realize the militaristic origins of the logo).
But voting doesn't end for this round until September 5th, and in the meantime, I encourage everyone to support your Keydets:
http://sportzedge.com/2014/08/26/coolest-ncaa-logos-tournament-1-vmi-vs-16-texas/
You can vote as many times as you wish, by simply clicking the "Return to Poll" button in the bottom right-hand of the voting box.
It is formatted so that the team with the most votes from each of the 32 conferences will be given an "automatic bid" to the Round of 64, and the 32 highest vote-getting schools after that, regardless of conference affiliation, will receive an "at-large" bid.
Teams from FCS conferences and other small conferences have been doing quite well in this contest: from the old Big South, UNC Asheville, Winthrop, Longwood, and Campbell made it past the conference stage; not to mention The Citadel, Wofford, Western Carolina, and of course VMI, who passed with a modest 123,000 votes.... it would be an understatement to say our fans came out in full force (you can see the overwhelming results here).
Now the First Round of the tournament is upon us, and we are up against the Texas Longhorns, the logo of whom is one of the most recognizable cattle in the country. They also have the largest athletic budget in the country at over $210M, though luckily, that won't help them out here. At this point we are winning with ease (perhaps thanks to some Aggies and Red Raiders), and barring some unforeseen Longhorn infestation, we should cruise through this round. This support comes despite a rather unfavorable view from the pollsters, who criticized the logo for its blandness and lack of creativeness (which, from a distance is fair, but they may have forgotten to realize the militaristic origins of the logo).
But voting doesn't end for this round until September 5th, and in the meantime, I encourage everyone to support your Keydets:
http://sportzedge.com/2014/08/26/coolest-ncaa-logos-tournament-1-vmi-vs-16-texas/
You can vote as many times as you wish, by simply clicking the "Return to Poll" button in the bottom right-hand of the voting box.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Hoops Schedule Finalized
The 2014-15 Keydet basketball schedule has finally been released, and, in our first season back in our true home, it is certainly no cupcake.
Released today, the schedule features three match-ups with teams from Power Five Conferences (Virginia Tech of the ACC, West Virginia* of the Big 12, and Big Ten newcomer Maryland). We'll also be playing at George Washington just before New Year's, an Atlantic 10 school which, all things considered, may well be the best mid-major conference in the NCAA. The schedule is most unforgiving within the first two+ months, as only five of our first eighteen games will be played in Cameron. At least 11 of those games will be on the road, depending on who wins the semifinal game between Army and Air Force at this year's Military Classic in West Point (Nov 14-15).
The home opener will take place on November 18 against Johnson University (non-NCAA), followed by a Saturday night (7pm) matchup with UNC Wilmington, a return game from five years ago...we will likely reveal our CIT banner that night, if we do at all. The only other non-Division I game will be against Mid-Atlantic Christian University (USCAA), and another return game from Marist will round out the home slat in 2014. And I should mention we have a game at Navy, the first since 2004, on December 9 in Annapolis.
The conference home opener will against the Mercer Bears on January 5. The format will feature a full round-robin schedule, 18 games w/ two per team. Six of the first seven conference games will be on the road, two of which will be in early December on that awful Georgia/Alabama road trip. Luckily, the schedule brightens up in February: eight of the final eleven games are at home, including a long five-game homestand (something that would have never happened in the Big South), including weekend matinees with The Citadel and Wofford. The season ends on February 28 at home versus Samford, and we should get plenty of rest for the SoCon Tournament in Asheville. But getting the first-round bye will be crucial, seeing as it would very rigorous to play on four straight nights, as the tournament format demands. The championship game should be on some ESPN network, with the prior rounds on ESPN3.
Full Schedule
*-game with WVU will be played in Charleston, WV at the Charleston Civic Center.
Released today, the schedule features three match-ups with teams from Power Five Conferences (Virginia Tech of the ACC, West Virginia* of the Big 12, and Big Ten newcomer Maryland). We'll also be playing at George Washington just before New Year's, an Atlantic 10 school which, all things considered, may well be the best mid-major conference in the NCAA. The schedule is most unforgiving within the first two+ months, as only five of our first eighteen games will be played in Cameron. At least 11 of those games will be on the road, depending on who wins the semifinal game between Army and Air Force at this year's Military Classic in West Point (Nov 14-15).
The home opener will take place on November 18 against Johnson University (non-NCAA), followed by a Saturday night (7pm) matchup with UNC Wilmington, a return game from five years ago...we will likely reveal our CIT banner that night, if we do at all. The only other non-Division I game will be against Mid-Atlantic Christian University (USCAA), and another return game from Marist will round out the home slat in 2014. And I should mention we have a game at Navy, the first since 2004, on December 9 in Annapolis.
The conference home opener will against the Mercer Bears on January 5. The format will feature a full round-robin schedule, 18 games w/ two per team. Six of the first seven conference games will be on the road, two of which will be in early December on that awful Georgia/Alabama road trip. Luckily, the schedule brightens up in February: eight of the final eleven games are at home, including a long five-game homestand (something that would have never happened in the Big South), including weekend matinees with The Citadel and Wofford. The season ends on February 28 at home versus Samford, and we should get plenty of rest for the SoCon Tournament in Asheville. But getting the first-round bye will be crucial, seeing as it would very rigorous to play on four straight nights, as the tournament format demands. The championship game should be on some ESPN network, with the prior rounds on ESPN3.
Full Schedule
*-game with WVU will be played in Charleston, WV at the Charleston Civic Center.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Reggie Williams Signs 1-year Deal with Miami Heat
After a hectic 2013–14 season, NBA small forward and VMI alumnus Reggie Williams is returning to basketball in the U.S. Williams inked a one-year deal with the Miami Heat last Thursday, worth the league's minimum of slightly under $1 million. Since May of this year, he had been playing with the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association. In parts of five NBA seasons, Williams has played for three teams, as well as two international stints in Spain and France.
Williams had an incredible career as a Keydet from 2004 to 2008, scoring 2,556 career points which was the most in history by any VMI player, and tops among all Virginia college basketball players. He led the NCAA in scoring twice in his career, peaking in his junior season with 28.1 points per game. He is fifth all-time on the school's rebounding list, and seventh in assists.
Following his graduation from VMI, Williams continued his basketball career with JDA Dijon (France), and in 2009 he signed a contract with the NBA D-League's Sioux Falls Skyforce. He averaged over 26.4 PPG with Sioux Falls, and was selected as a D-League All-Star. Williams was picked up by the Golden State Warriors in March of 2010, and after being signed to several 10-day contracts, Williams was signed for the remainder of the year as well as the next season. In 24 games, Williams averaged 15.2 PPG for the Warriors that season.
In December of 2011, Williams was picked up by the Charlotte Bobcats before the start of the lockout-shortened NBA season, a deal worth $5 million for two years. His numbers declined heavily, and he appeared in only 73 games in that span. During training camp prior to the 2013-14 season, Williams was signed by the Houston Rockets to a multi-year deal, but was waived later in October. After returning to the D-League with the Tulsa 66ers, the Oklahoma City Thunder called him up on another 10-day contract, and Williams lingered with the team for the remainder of the year. He averaged 3.7 points in three games with the Thunder this past season.
Now, with the departure of All-Star and face of of the league LeBron James from Miami, as well as James Jones and possibly Ray Allen leaving the team, Williams will have a chance to compete for a roster spot this preseason. He will likely compete with Danny Granger and James Ennis for a backup role, and with a largely undefined Heat roster, Williams may have what it takes to find himself on the court again this winter.
Williams had an incredible career as a Keydet from 2004 to 2008, scoring 2,556 career points which was the most in history by any VMI player, and tops among all Virginia college basketball players. He led the NCAA in scoring twice in his career, peaking in his junior season with 28.1 points per game. He is fifth all-time on the school's rebounding list, and seventh in assists.
Following his graduation from VMI, Williams continued his basketball career with JDA Dijon (France), and in 2009 he signed a contract with the NBA D-League's Sioux Falls Skyforce. He averaged over 26.4 PPG with Sioux Falls, and was selected as a D-League All-Star. Williams was picked up by the Golden State Warriors in March of 2010, and after being signed to several 10-day contracts, Williams was signed for the remainder of the year as well as the next season. In 24 games, Williams averaged 15.2 PPG for the Warriors that season.
In December of 2011, Williams was picked up by the Charlotte Bobcats before the start of the lockout-shortened NBA season, a deal worth $5 million for two years. His numbers declined heavily, and he appeared in only 73 games in that span. During training camp prior to the 2013-14 season, Williams was signed by the Houston Rockets to a multi-year deal, but was waived later in October. After returning to the D-League with the Tulsa 66ers, the Oklahoma City Thunder called him up on another 10-day contract, and Williams lingered with the team for the remainder of the year. He averaged 3.7 points in three games with the Thunder this past season.
Now, with the departure of All-Star and face of of the league LeBron James from Miami, as well as James Jones and possibly Ray Allen leaving the team, Williams will have a chance to compete for a roster spot this preseason. He will likely compete with Danny Granger and James Ennis for a backup role, and with a largely undefined Heat roster, Williams may have what it takes to find himself on the court again this winter.
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