Sunday, February 24, 2013
Can Williams spark UNM?
By Matt Giles
Kendall Williams is one of the most explosive players in the Division I ranks. The 6-foot-4 guard initially committed to UCLA, but as detailed by George Dohrmann is his Twitter feed, UCLA coach Ben Howland pulled his scholarship very late in the recruiting period, a move that spooked other Pac-12 coaches (who didn't have enough time to properly evaluate the guard) and forced Williams to evaluate other options. While New Mexico is often a difficult team to watch -- the squad only converts 45 percent of their twos and posts under one point per possession in Mountain West play -- Williams is capable of offensively dominating a game. A good example, then, is his effort in a win over Colorado State: Williams scored 46 points, scorching the Rams from deep with his ten made threes.
It will be interesting if Williams can spark New Mexico into the NCAA tournament. At the moment, ESPN's Joe Lunardi has the Lobos in the field, but UNM is the lowest-ranking potential tourney team in terms of two-point shooting. Even Williams struggles from within the arc, converting only 44 percent of his twos. But, as he proved against Colorado State, he can bomb from beyond the arc, and that offensive display can carry UNM far into March.
