Chris Williams Participates In Star-Studded Chat Madness

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Oct. 12, 2001

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Get ready for Midnight Madness with “ChatMadness“! ESPN.com’s 2001-02 Season Preview begins on Friday, October12, with an in-depth look at Duke’s chances to repeat, ESPN.com’s PreseasonTop 25 and a star-studded chat lineup of players from their top 25 teams.

Below is a transcript of Chris Williams’ chat from earlier today:

Chris Williams: (1:59 PM ET ) Hello everyone!! I’m ready for your questions!!!

Chris Williams: (2:00 PM ET ) I feel great heading into this season, we have so many veterans coming back and so many talented guys coming in. We are in for a great season!

Matt(Johnstown): How difficult is it to gain respect in your conference with teams like Duke, UNC, and Maryland?

Chris Williams: (2:01 PM ET ) It is difficult. The last couple years we have been in the top three but get no respect. We hope to gain that respect this year.

Phillip(New York): With the great success your team had last year do you go into this season feeling like the hunted or the hunting?

Chris Williams: (2:02 PM ET ) I don’t think we have the respect to be called the hunted .. we are still looking to improve.

Majestic (Charlottesville): Chris, how will the team fill in for the devastating loss of Majestic Mapp?

Chris Williams: (2:03 PM ET ) It will hurt us a lot. He was going to lead this team. We will be OK though. Roger Mason is still here and he is a great player.

Griff (Springville, IA): What do you think that Virginia will have to accomplish this year to start gaining some of the respect around the country that you deserve?

Chris Williams: (2:04 PM ET ) I think we haven’t won the ACC tourney in 26 years and we’ve been put out in the first round the last couple years so we have to do more damage there and in the NCAA’s.

Rod Baker (Kelowna): who is the most exciting player for you to watch in the NCAA

Chris Williams: (2:05 PM ET ) Jason Williams .. he is probaby the most exciting.

sean PA: How are you guys gonna beat duke this year? If it is possible to beat them without them not beating themselves?

Chris Williams: (2:07 PM ET ) We can. We are talented just like they are. As long as we don’t beat ourselves.

L.P. (Cincinnati): Do you think that your schedule (outside of the ACC) will get you prepared for ACC play?

Chris Williams: (2:08 PM ET ) It does. We have some tough teams to play this season .. Michigan St, Auburn, it will help us tremendously for the ACC tourney.

Andy Secor (Grand Rapids): Chris, your game has really evolved in your time at UVA. What types of workouts or things have you done that have helped you the most?

Chris Williams: (2:09 PM ET ) Working out with the coaches to have an all around game. I’m not focusing on just one thing, it has helped me a lot. Coach Scott Shepard has helped me greatly.

Chewy (IOWA): Is Chis williams not only ready for big time play in the ACC this year, but the NBA next year?

Chris Williams: (2:12 PM ET ) Yeah, I think I am ready. My game is an all around game. First I have to get ready for this season and then I will focus on that next year. But I do feel that my game is ready.

Thanks to everybody for your questions .. and keep an eye on us this season!!

Talk to you later!!

About Chris…

The 6’7″ junior forward could be the best kept secret in the nation. An interior scorer with mid-range skills, Williams averaged 14.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season. He returns to a Cavalier squad that could be one of the fastest teams in the nation.

Williams is a returning three-year starter at forward, an unheralded player who exploded onto the college scene as a freshman during the 1998-99 season. He is a very low-key individual off the court that comes by his nickname, Big Smooth, naturally, given his style of play. Deceptive underneath the basket with a variety of moves, Williams was voted the ACC’s most underrated player in Sports Illustrated’s 2000-01 College Basketball Preview.

Other things to know … joined Keith Friel and Donald Hand as one of Virginia’s 2000-01 tri-captains … earned third-team All-ACC honors last season … made a three-point basket in the Coastal Carolina game (Nov. 20) to became the 34th player in Virginia men’s basketball history to reach 1000 career points … enters the 2001-02 season ranked 18th on UVa’s all-time scoring list with 1,405 career points … tied for eighth on Virginia’s career steals list with 140, and ranked ninth on UVa’s career lists for three-point field goals made (102) and blocked shots (81) … reached double figures in scoring in 24 of 29 games last season and was the team’s leading scorer seven times … has posted 10 double-doubles during his career, including three in 2000-01 … ranked third in the ACC last season in field goal percentage (147-292, .503) … finished 10th in the ACC in scoring (14.5 ppg), rebounding (6.7 rpg) and defensive rebounds (4.41 rpg), 11th in free throw percentage (95-125 .760), 12th in offensive rebounds (2.24 rpg) and 13th in steals (1.52 spg) … has shot better than 50 percent from the field in each of his previous three seasons at UVa … has made 50.8 percent (508-1000) of his career field goals attempts … shot a team-high .509 percent (84-165) from the field last season against ACC competition … second-team All-ACC as a sophomore in 1999-00 … scored in double figures a team-leading 27 times and shot 43.8 percent (28-64) from three-point range in the last 18 games of the season … ranked fourth in the ACC in 1999-00 in field goal percentage (50.7) … ranked 10th in the league in scoring in all games (15.5 ppg) and ninth in scoring in ACC games (16.3 ppg) … tied for seventh in the ACC in steals (1.6 spg) … considered for selection to the 1999-2000 Wooden Award Pre-Season All-American Team Top 25 by the John R. Wooden Award Committee … the league’s leading scorer for much of the 1998-99 season, he finished eighth (16.8 ppg) … finished fifth in the league in field goal shooting percentage (.512), fifth in rebounding (7.5 rpg.) and tied for sixth in blocked shots (1.4/bpg) … scored a UVa freshman record 34 points vs. Liberty (Dec. 8, 1998) during the 1998-99 season … selected to play, along with UVa teammate Adam Hall, for the 1999 USA Basketball Men’s Junior World Championship Team … the 12-man team earned the silver medal at the 16-team 1999 FIBA Men’s Junior World Championship in Portugal … set a USA team tournament record with 12 blocks for the competition … finished tied for third on the team in scoring (10.4 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.4 rpg) … led the U.S. squad in scoring in games vs. China (18 points) and Croatia (15 points) … scored in double figures in five of six games during UVa’s European tour in August of 2000 … he posted a “double-double” with 13 points and 10 rebounds in a 108-69 win over Lummen BBC in the fifth game of the tour in Bocholt, Belgium … followed that performance with a 19-point, six-rebound, three-assist effort in a 116-72 win over Sceaux (pronounced “so”) BBC of France in the trip’s final game.

Complete “Chat Madness” Lineup

Oklahoma State’s Maurice Baker — 1:00 p.m. ET
Baker led the squad last season in scoring, assists, steals, and three-pointshooting, while finishing second in rebounding. The 6’1″ senior guard hopesto help his team to better their 19 wins from last season and return to theNCAA Tournament.

Boston College’s Troy Bell — 1:20 p.m. ET
The reigning Big East Player of the Year is the league’s top returningscorer with a 20.4 average. Bell helped lead the Eagles to a 13-3 recordlast season and into the second round of the NCAA’s. While Boston Collegetook some people by surprise last season, all eyes will be on the 6’1″junior with playmaking skills.

Oklahoma’s Aaron McGhee — 1:40 p.m. ET
After winning the Big 12 Tournament last season, the Sooners welcome backMcGhee, a 6’8″ senior, who averaged 12.9 points last season and 4.8rebounds. He also hit 22 three-pointers. McGhee may not be a household name,but his strong play inside will keep Oklahoma in the hunt.

Virginia’s Chris Williams — 2:00 p.m. ET

Duke’s Jason Williams — 2:20 p.m. ET
He gave up being the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft to come back to the BlueDevils and lead the charge for a second straight national championship. The6’2″ junior averaged 21.6 points and 6.1 assists per game last season, andhit 42.7 percent of his three’s. With Shane Battier gone, Williams will alsotake on even more of a leadership role on the team.

UCLA’s Dan Gadzuric — 2:40 a.m. ET
At 6’11”, Gadzuric could be the Pac 10’s most dominating center. He averaged11.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season. If Gadzuric stayshealthy, this could be the year UCLA breaks through the Sweet 16 barrier.

Illinois’ Frank Williams — 3:00 p.m. ET
The 6’3″ junior guard can do it all, and he will be asked to by Illinoisthis season. His leadership abilities, combined with his 14.9 points and 4.4assists per game will be key in propelling Illinois to the Big Ten title anda shot at the Final Four.

USC’s Sam Clancy — 3:20 p.m. ET
One of the top returning post players in the nation, Clancy is a dominating big man who can score inside or outside and who has defensive skills to match. Though initially submitting his name for the NBA draft and participating in draft camps, Clancy ultimately withdrew his entry to return to the Trojans.

Kansas’ Kirk Hinrich – 3:40 p.m. ET
The 6’3″ junior guard averaged seven assists a game last season and shot50.5 percent from the three-point line. He will run the offense for thisyoung Jayhawk squad looking to improve on last season’s 26-7 record.