Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 3, 1995 TAG: 9504040049
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: SEATTLE LENGTH: Medium
It was quick. It was strong.
``It's not how you start,'' Williamson said. ``It's how you finish.''
The Razorbacks' two-time All-American likely will play his last college game tonight when Arkansas tries to defend its NCAA title against UCLA at the Kingdome. If Williamson finishes as he has in recent games, the favored Bruins will be 21 years without an NCAA crown.
``The road to the Final Four has been slippery,'' said the 6-foot-7 junior. ``We're here. We were supposed to be the best team in the country. We're one game from that.''
It's because of Williamson and defense that the Razorbacks (32-6) are playing the last night of the season for the second consecutive year. When Arkansas began the season with a 104-80 crushing by Massachusetts in the Tipoff Classic and Williamson was outplayed by Lou Roe, the only thing the Hogs were defending was their honor.
However, in consecutive NCAA Tournament victories over ACC foes Virginia and North Carolina, the Razorbacks found Williamson in the second half, while the Heels couldn't locate Rasheed Wallace and the 'Hoos didn't get the ball to Junior Burrough.
``You have to try to keep Corliss from getting the ball so close to the basket,'' said UCLA coach Jim Harrick. ``I think he hurts you as much on offensive rebounds as anything else.
``He's big and strong and fast. I watched him in high school destroy people, and now he's come to college and done the same thing. Not a lot of guys can do that.
``He's unbelievable in the low post. And he has unbelievable hands. Trying to stop him is one thing. Doing it is another.''
The Southeastern Conference's player of the year for the second consecutive year, Williamson has three double-doubles in his past four NCAA games, and missed another by one rebound against UVa.
``Great players do it in great games,'' said Razorbacks coach Nolan Richardson. ``Considering he's played against two or three men some games, as opposed to last year, I think he's had a better year.
``It's so sad people got down on him for that first game against UMass.''
Williamson was describing his offensive-board work when he said, ``It's been kind of an up-and-down year for me.'' Still, he's averaging almost 20 points and nearly eight rebounds per game for his home-state school.
``Last year, everything seemed to be just great,'' he said. ``Everything was going well, and then this year, with the expectations, one day someone would say I was a great player and the next they were questioning where my mind was.
``It's been a good season because I've learned a lot from it. I'm glad I was able to have this experience, but I always try to go with my own expectations.''
That's where his ``Big Nasty'' nickname fits.
``I didn't used to be this way in high school,'' Williamson said. ``I was a nice guy. People muscled me on the floor.
``I want to be the best player on the court, period. I want to be the meanest, the toughest. It's an attitude. On the court, I really am Big Nasty. Off the court, I guess you can call me `Big Softy' or `Big Easy.'''
And if he goes to the NBA next season, you can call him ``Big Money.''
Williamson long ago figured out how to play the game. He's a soft-spoken smiler off the court. On the court, he doesn't say much. He just plays.
He's the leader of a team that is one victory from becoming only the second in the past 22 years to win consecutive NCAA titles. And now that the Razorbacks are where they wanted to be and everyone expected them to be, Williamson is happy, right?
Well, not exactly. Seems his NCAA bracket didn't work out.
``To be honest, personally, I wanted to play Kentucky [which lost to North Carolina] yesterday and UMass tomorrow night,'' Williamson said Sunday. ``Kentucky was the last team to beat us this season. UMass was the first. It just didn't work out that way.''
No, those teams will be home watching Williamson, which is easier than playing him.
by CNB