KNOXVILLE — A week earlier, Brian Williams had a potential game-winning basket swatted away at the rim against Florida.
And even though the shot the Tennessee center made at the buzzer to beat Georgia on Tuesday night was tougher, Williams might not have had the confidence to make it even seven days ago.
“That’s facing the facts,” UT coach Bruce Pearl said Wednesday afternoon at his weekly news conference.
After the Vols (12-6, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) lost in overtime to Florida last week when Williams couldn’t capitalize on a crunch-time opportunity, Pearl said his 6-foot-10, 272-pound senior lacked the same confidence offensively to convert baskets in those situations that he has in his rebounding and defense.
But Williams has responded in UT’s last two games, with a big performance on the offensive glass and the game-sealing steal against Vanderbilt and the Vols’ final four points against Georgia.