Issue Date: 3/13/06
Duke's Williams let the barriers come down
By Ken Tysiac -- KRT News Service
DURHAM, N.C. (KRT) -- Shelden Williams could hear the cheers from in front of the television Sunday as he cooked in the kitchen at the apartment he shares with Duke teammate Lee Melchionni.
While the rest of the Blue Devils watched Texas play N.C. State, Williams was managing two deep fryers full of chicken drumsticks and preparing macaroni and cheese and green beans for the entire team.
Williams cooking dinner for his teammates would have been unthinkable when he was an introverted freshman at Duke. He arrived afraid to trust anybody and didn't connect with his teammates.
"I have a huge wall when it comes to new faces and new things," Williams said. "And it's something I've had almost all my life. I've been in positions when people always want something from me."
The soft-spoken freshman's introversion made him a bad fit at Duke, where coach Mike Krzyzewski's teams become close-knit families.
Williams said Krzyzewski told him he had to become vocal and social with teammates, and that exercise has been worthwhile. Now a senior, Williams owns Duke's career rebounding and blocked shot records.
During his career, the Blue Devils have won three ACC titles, played in a Final Four and are two victories from another heading into Thursday night's Atlanta Regional semifinal game with Louisiana State.
But Williams' success has also exposed him further to the hazards of opening up.
In Redick's shadow
The highlights infuriated Krzyzewski.
Florida State had just upset Duke, and the only video of game action he saw on TV was a play demonstrating that Williams should have fouled out earlier.
Krzyzewski said Williams -- the biggest and strongest of the Blue Devils -- had become the personification of the idea that Duke "gets all the calls" from the referees.
"It's just something that's unfortunate that happens," Williams said. "To be displayed in that manner is something that's been kind of hurtful for our basketball team, but it's something we have to fight through."
While the rest of the Blue Devils watched Texas play N.C. State, Williams was managing two deep fryers full of chicken drumsticks and preparing macaroni and cheese and green beans for the entire team.
Williams cooking dinner for his teammates would have been unthinkable when he was an introverted freshman at Duke. He arrived afraid to trust anybody and didn't connect with his teammates.
"I have a huge wall when it comes to new faces and new things," Williams said. "And it's something I've had almost all my life. I've been in positions when people always want something from me."
The soft-spoken freshman's introversion made him a bad fit at Duke, where coach Mike Krzyzewski's teams become close-knit families.
Williams said Krzyzewski told him he had to become vocal and social with teammates, and that exercise has been worthwhile. Now a senior, Williams owns Duke's career rebounding and blocked shot records.
During his career, the Blue Devils have won three ACC titles, played in a Final Four and are two victories from another heading into Thursday night's Atlanta Regional semifinal game with Louisiana State.
But Williams' success has also exposed him further to the hazards of opening up.
In Redick's shadow
The highlights infuriated Krzyzewski.
Florida State had just upset Duke, and the only video of game action he saw on TV was a play demonstrating that Williams should have fouled out earlier.
Krzyzewski said Williams -- the biggest and strongest of the Blue Devils -- had become the personification of the idea that Duke "gets all the calls" from the referees.
"It's just something that's unfortunate that happens," Williams said. "To be displayed in that manner is something that's been kind of hurtful for our basketball team, but it's something we have to fight through."