SAN FRANCISCO - Kamiko Williams showcased her potential like never before in Tennessee's final women's basketball game before the holiday break.
The freshman's 14 points, eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and two blocks in an 89-34 rout of San Francisco on Tuesday night amounted to an early Christmas present for No. 4 Tennessee (10-1). Suddenly, there's some real evidence to support UT coach Pat Summitt's claim that the 5-foot-11 guard could be a "real difference maker" for the Lady Vols.
"She's one of the most athletic guards we've had at Tennessee,'' Summitt said. "Now she's starting to understand the skills she needs to go with her athleticism.''
How Williams proceeds might depend on her diplomatic skills as much as her athletic ability. In the wake of last Saturday's 67-52 loss to Stanford, the Lady Vols all wrote individual critiques and Summitt met with each player. Williams opened up with Summitt like never before, revealing that she felt caught between her coach and her father, Vincent.
"I was telling her my frustrations and telling her how trying to play for her and then trying to play for my dad can bump heads a little bit,'' Williams said, "because my dad wants me to do one thing, and Pat wants me to do another thing and it gets confusing. It really does. I get to the point where I try to satisfy too many people and that catches me into not playing my game."
Williams said that Summitt was receptive to her situation and offered advice.
"She listened; she understood,'' Williams said. "She gave me some tips on how to talk to my dad."
Williams, who's playing predominantly off guard rather than point guard, said that she hopes to satisfy both parties and end this human taffy pull.
"OK, Coach wants me to do this; my dad wants me to do this,'' Williams said. "Let me try to do what they both say within the (framework) of (Summitt's) offense. My dad says, 'You can score, penetrate, do this and that.' OK, yes I can do that, but if Pat wants me to pass the ball, I can pass the ball and if it comes back to me, then I'll try to penetrate. I am just going to try and please both of them at one time and keep a smile on my face."
Williams would be a welcome addition to the regular player rotation. Other than her, there aren't many other potential windfalls lurking on UT's bench. Forward Vicki Baugh's return from knee surgery last February might be the lone possibility and the likelihood of that happening appears to be iffy at this point.
Summitt continues asking for more from forward Alyssia Brewer, who scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds against San Francisco.
"I'd like to see Lyssi Brewer really run the floor hard and establish paint points right away so (center) Kelley Cain is not having to play the minutes she's been playing,'' Summitt said.
Cain played just 17 minutes against the Dons. Summitt thought that the 6-6 redshirt sophomore's surgically repaired right knee was bothering her.
Freshman Taber Spani, meanwhile, played just 13 minutes because of a sore left foot. She had the shortest work shift of anyone against the Dons.
A key determination going forward is who will be dependable. Summitt is thinking in terms of how many.
"If we can go eight, maybe even nine deep that would give us a chance to be really good and keep the pressure on the opponent," she said.
After playing 22 productive minutes Tuesday, Williams hopes that she gave her coach something to think about over the break.
"I wanted to leave her with the good thought that I can play hard for as long as she wants me to,'' Williams said.
Notebook: Amber Gray, who is redshirting after undergoing offseason brain surgery for an aneurysm, paid her way to the West Coast and attended both games.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 48
greece6869#336093 writes:
And I hoped this kind of problems was only in Middle School and High School!
Come on Dad, back off and let the COACH do her job, I think she has shown that she has a pretty good idea of what she is doing.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
I think Williams is last piece of the puzzle especially if Baugh does not play this year and it looks like she is not going to be able to play this year. The first time I saw Williams play, I thought to myself, gee.....this girl has got some great potential and is going to be great one day. If she contiues to play like she did at USF,believe me, Pat will reward her for it...and the more she plays and the more experience she gets, she is going to become a GREAT player! She played in every aspect of the game. Looking for more and especially the next 3 years. I agree with greece, her Daddy needs to back off and let Pat develop her into the GREAT player that she can be under Pat's guidance. Some people probably won't agree with me, but I think I see a little
"Hornbuckle" in her!!!!!!
I love her hustle and drive!!!!!!!!!
LV.....TCB....Keep on keeping on...GBO!!
BIGEJ writes:
I coached my son and his classmates for many years and I realized there were other coaches who could make them better. THE COACH PAT SUMMIT has the resume that SCREAMS, I can take your child to a higher level in the sport of BB.....YE THINK!!.......GO VOLS
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
P.S. Kamiko, I think you must be the best daughter you can be period, especially since you are trying to please your Dad with how you play the game. But you must remember something, you came to TN because you wanted to play for the "greatest coach of all time" ....so during your 4 years while at TN, you need to do what CPS says as far as basketball and your game...that is if you want all your abilities developed to the fullest potential and you want your name mentioned with Parker, Catchings, Holdsclaw and I could name many others. Just remember, Pat is YOUR COACH and your DAD is your DAD......Sorry for these long posts but I just want Kimko to understand and see what is right in front of her and all she has to do is reach out and grab it, along with at least 2, probably 3 National Championships. Your Dad will always be your Dad and love you. You only have 4 years with Pat as your Coach, so make the most of it girl!!!!
LV..TCB...Keep on keeping on...GBO!!!!
dhwright64 writes:
Take it from a dad who coached his daughter for 5 out of her first 6 years before she began playing for another coach. It can be extremely tough. I still try and give my advice and work with her on her personal game but I always tell her that if her coach tells her anything different that what I do that, "He's the coach now." But my teams did press much better than his do. Heh, heh, heh.....
CTOWNICON writes:
I say shoot kamiko and penetrate! We already have enough passers on the team. We need extra scorers to help this offense! I am sure Pat won't mind Kamiko being more offensive minded and looking to score, so please do not lose that aspect of your game, improve it!
jawbreaker writes:
Kamiko had better play to satisfy CPS or she will be playing somewhere else to satisfy her father.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Back off Dad and let a coach who has over 1000 wins on her resume do her thing! Kamiko's game will greatly benefit in the long run...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Tell it, brother.
greece6869#336093 writes:
Not to argue with you, but I would guess that CPS does not see her as "a few minutes off the bench to pass the ball around" but instead she sees her as what she can be: a future All-SEC performer.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
Kamiko, Pat is forever talking about your upside and your potential. Seems your dad already knows what you can do. Pat and your dad just want to play to your capability. And don't use them as an excuse for not playing your best each and every play. I suspect if you play to your capability you will satisfy Pat, your dad, us, and most of all yourself.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
One would think that, as a military man, Dad would know about the dangers of divided command! I know it is hard for a parent to let go and deliver his daughter into someone else's hands, but both of them HAD to know that CPS WILL have her players do what SHE wants or they will sit. In his defense, Dad has no doubt seen Kamiko have her way against HS-level competition and can't really imagine that she might not be able to as much as well against college-level competition right now. I hope this doesn't continue to be a problem, because I agree with everyone else, including Dad, that Kamiko can be a special player some day soon.
packie56 writes:
Hi, Mike. Merry Christmas and in the New Year, could you stay on topic? Thanks.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Time for Dad to sit in the backseat and let CPS do the driving. Treat it as a job Kamiko...your job is being a student and playing basketball, your salary is your scholarship and your boss is CPS. Daddy doesn't have a say so anymore. Time to cut the apron strings and act like an adult!!
utfan00 writes:
GET A LIFE YOU "BIG NUT". This is just the beginning.
kazoo writes:
As badly as this team needs an athletic presence at guard and on the perimter, PS should be playing her every chance she gets. The last two times I've seen the Vols on TV, she barely got on the court. This team needs her athleticism.
fortandrews writes:
The times I have seen Kamiko play it seems she has an attitude problem. She needs to understand she is not in HS now and there are 9 - 10 more on the team. And most of them are a lot better then she is. Dad you need to grow up too. Your daughter has a "free ride' for the next 4 years if she keeps her nose clean and you stay the h--l out of her life as a basketball player. S he is in a situation where she can grow as a person and be better when the "free ride" is over. Pat will make her a better BB player and a lady something you can not do. Be thankful that she is where she is at this time of her life. Kamiko work on your "attitude".
CTOWNICON writes:
Is the whole team getting a free ride or just Kamiko? Telling a father to stay out of his daughter's life is a bit much, basketball or otherwise. Agreed let Pat be her coach!
CTOWNICON writes:
The other teams may need to start taking peformance enhancing drugs for some extra stamina! Why let Uconn get away with everything?
SomeGuy writes:
Good grief! Another Little League parent? First it was Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood's parents then it was Jon Crompton's parents and now this guy? Watch and learn Fulmer as Pat again shows you how to deal with Little League parents. This kid's dad will find out in a New York minute that Pat doesn't put up with LL parents. And a note to Dad: remember the last time a superstar player came to UT and her LL parents acted up? Do you remember what ever happened to that girl? Yeah, well neither does anyone else. The answer is that she transferred to Maryland and 4 years later her career ended with her on the bench. Don't be an idiot and follow the Wiley-Gatewood parents' example. Let your daughter do exactly what Pat wants her to do. She has the opportunity of a lifetime in playing for Pat. Don't blow it!
CTOWNICON writes:
Post that mess on Uconn board, no one wants to read about here. Anytime you come here I am going to insult you, so be ready. Stupid comment for a stupid person like you. Do you not realize how pathetic you seem. This is a lady vol site, not Uconn dumb dumb, only a 12 year old would not know the difference. When did you become a part of the team? I notice you said we are on steroids. Last time I looked they only had women on the team, so know I guess you are admitting you want to be a woman. You need to be evaluated!
xvolx writes:
Seems like there is more here than meets the eye. Didn't she get suspended one game for cutting class? We don't know all the facts about this.
98reax writes:
mike is by far the winner of the most unwelcome, clueless, inconsiderate, obnoxious meathead of the century award. If it was a bug, one could squash it. If it were food, one would most definitely regurgitate. If it were....perhaps it is... Enough said.
YankeeVol writes:
How about if some adult takes Kamiko under their wing and encourages to become her own person, rather than acting like a trained seal for her father or her coach?
SummittsCourt writes:
Pride comes before the fall. Keep talking numbnuts and you will see.
SummittsCourt writes:
This is a problem a lot of these girls who play sports have. Their fathers who wish they had sons living through their daughters. If this father had any brains he would know to tell his daughter to listen to Coach Summitt and then shut up. Why would he tell his daughter to do something other than the 8 time National Championship coach tells her? This is insane but I'm sure Coach Summitt will straighten HIM out.
r2d2 writes:
The Kamiko Williams situation is not an "either or" between her Dad and Coach Summitt. She needs to play point guard!! Shekinna Stricklen is not comfortable or effective at the point. Kamiko can pass and score as a point guard. Remember Renee Montgomery at UCONN last year. I hope Coach Summitt realizes this. The Lady Vols would have beaten Stanford if Kamiko had played point. The Lady Vols held Stanford to 67 points. UCONN held Stanford to 68 points. The Lady Vols did not score but 52 points due to an ineffective offense. Please play Kamiko, Coach Summitt.
utfan00 writes:
I don't think Pat starts her because she doesn't understand the system of defense yet. If her father knows so much about the game, he should how taught her to play defense in high school. This is the biggest problem with all the newcomers entering the LV program.
utfan00 writes:
I have a question for all the Vols fans. Do you think the LV are going down hill? I don't see her winning another championship within the next
7 years. These girls cannot play ball. UCONN OR STANFORD will win this year and possibly next year. Possibly Baylor the year afterward.
ladyvolsfan789 writes:
No, UT's going to be a lot better next year and a lot of the best teams this year are going to loose key players. Coach Summit has another two guards coming in next year and Baugh and Dupree should be healthy enough to play. Conneticut and Stanford will still be good next year, but the teams to beat will probably be Baylor, Notre Dame and Tennessee.
98reax writes:
in response to utfan00:
I have a question for all the Vols fans. Do you think the LV are going down hill? I don't see her winning another championship within the next
7 years. These girls cannot play ball. UCONN OR STANFORD will win this year and possibly next year. Possibly Baylor the year afterward.]
You call yourself a UT fan? You have to believe.
RDW writes:
I'm a UT grad and die hard fan, but a little concerned that the LV are too predictable. The last thing I want is for UConn to win anything. Sometimes I think that they have our number w/r to recruiting.
utfan00 writes:
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TRUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
all4vols writes:
98reax, I'm sure that you were one of those how said the game had passed Pat by just before she and the LV won their last championship.
The_Truth_and_nothing_but_the_Truth writes:
Too late.
A few days ago everybody on this site was routing for Stanford. It took a while for the cream to rise to the top, but it did, it always does.
CTOWNICON writes:
That isn't cream rising,it's scum!
YankeeVol writes:
heh, heh, heh....
Ringside writes:
It's hard for dads to break away after years of being there. It is college, but it is still your kid that you have invested so much in. I am sure the dad wants what is best and sometimes they are the last to see that the time has arived to give someone else the reins.
SummittsCourt writes:
Your post is idiotic and a good example of what stupid men can do to women in sports.
chuckfromwoodbury writes:
Hey Vincent. When you become the winnigest coach in the history of basketball, we'll do things your way. Until then, sit down, shut up, and enjoy the fact your daughter is playing for the greatest coach to ever draw a breath. Don't make me send Holly after you.
switcher76 writes:
Baby girl better start listening to CPS or she will end up sitting on the bench keeping Vicki, Amber and Faith company.
Mike....stay in Connecticut where you belong! If TN bugs you so much then stay off this website....IT"S FOR TN FANS ONLY!! Geno's time on top will end just like everyone's does. GO VOLS! GO VOLS!!
BigRMan writes:
I hear Mike's numb all over! (LOL)
volboy81 writes:
when her dad has 1,000 D1 Basketball wins, listen to him...until then, at least on the court, listen to Pat!
BigRMan writes:
Mike from Connecticut needs to do a movie either Dumb & Dumber III, When Harry dumped Lloyd, or he can do an original Numb & Number! (LOL)-More to the Kamiko Williams situation. Part of the life's experience of collegiate life in general is the parents letting go of the young adults so they may transition, through the higher education experience, to life on their own. If the student is inclined towards basketball, and can be afforded an opportunity to play for Coach Summitt she will be able to benefit from a plethera of positive experiences and teachings. Hopefully Kamiko's Dad will have enough faith to trust the in-place system at Tennessee! Happy New Year to all LV fans!
YankeeVol writes:
That's kinda poetic and philosophical...
98reax writes:
Perhaps K's dad has been reading and believing some of the scumpy GVX posters who portend the demise of the Summitt era.
98reax writes:
Reckon the writers know there's a game with ODU tomorrow night? If I were a KNSer, I would have something in print by now. It is hoops season, you know?
BigRMan writes:
And to 98: We're all hoopful for an LV victory over ODU!
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