UD sophomore guard ready to show what he can do

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer 1:29 AM Saturday, November 14, 2009

DAYTON — Freshmen Josh Benson and Matt Kavanaugh are expected to make their college basketball debuts for Dayton against Creighton today, Nov. 14, and fans will be able to see sophomore Paul Williams in action for the first time, too. The real Paul Williams, that is.

The 6-foot-4 guard from Detroit broke his foot before his freshman year, forcing him to sit out most of the preseason, and he never felt like he regained the form he had before the injury.

The lefty finished third as a senior in high school in the voting for Michigan’s Mr. Basketball award, was a consensus top-150 national recruit, and once scored 55 points in a game.

“People were telling me at the end of last season they felt like I was better, but to me, I still wasn’t myself,” Williams said. “I had that on my mind the whole year last year.

“People would tell me to let it go, to put it in the past, but it’s so hard to put it in the past when you miss two months and then try to compete after the reputation I had around the nation coming out of high school. ... But now, I’m good.”

Williams missed some early practices this year with a concussion, but he’s going into the season in peak form. And the Flyers will need all the helping hands they can find against the Bluejays, who have made 12 straight postseason trips (seven NCAAs, five NITs).

Creighton, though, will be without starting forward Justin Carter, who led the team in rebounding last season. The 6-5 junior suffered a sprained knee in an exhibition game.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125  or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.