Notebook: Williams rebounding with Vols

<p>NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Tennessee junior forward Brian Williams was suspended for the month of January, it gave him appreciation for what he had lost.</p><p>Williams is trying to make the most of his second chance with the Vols. On Thursday afternoon, Williams had seven points and a team-high 14 rebounds to lift Tennessee to a 59-49 win over LSU in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.</p><p>“Not many people are granted a second opportunity,” Williams said. “And that's what you have to do to take advantage of that.”</p><p>Williams was the last of three players to be reinstated by Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl after he was one of four Volunteer players arrested on drug and weapons charges on New Year's Day. Pearl kicked senior forward Tyler Smith off the team.</p><p>Williams was suspended nine games and sat out Tennessee's game Feb. 6 against South Carolina before returning to UT's lineup Feb. 9 against Vanderbilt.</p><p>“Coach and the University gave me something that I'm blessed with and I'm trying to take advantage of that so far,” Williams said.</p><p>The 6-foot-10, 270-pound Williams is rounding into form at the right time. Coming off a 13-rebound effort in UT's regular-season finale at Mississippi State, Williams had 14 more rebounds against LSU.</p><p>“I think he has something to prove just from the standpoint of what went on earlier in the year with the suspensions,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said.</p><p>Pearl said that Williams was reinstated to the team under tight guidelines, pointing out that Williams is a 3.0 student due to graduate in four years. UT guard Melvin Goines and UT forward Cameron Tatum also served suspensions for their roles in the incident.</p><p>“Brian's playing very well right now and and he had a very, very public and visible mistake and it's not — it's a very small piece of who he is,” Pearl said. “However, he understands there's no margin of error for him.”</p><p> </p><p><b>Downey done</b></p><p>South Carolina's 68-63 loss to Alabama could be the final in the career of senior guard Devan Downey.</p><p>Downey had 20 points, but missed a critical free throw with 18.7 seconds left that kept Alabama ahead 64-63. The Tide held on to win, rallying from an 18-point deficit</p><p>“It's just disappointing to lose, period,” Downey said. “The manner really doesn't matter. Like I said, I thought we had the game pretty much in hand, but credit Alabama, who just kept playing and kept fighting.”</p><p>Downey, the SEC's leading scorer at 22.6 points per game, could play again if South Carolina earns a bid to the NIT Tournament. But it's unlikely the NIT would extend a bid to the Gamecocks because they finished the season under .500 (15-16).</p><p> </p><p><b>LSU's fall</b></p><p>LSU finished its second season under Johnson with 11-20 record after its 59-49 opening-round loss to Tennessee.</p><p>For Johnson, it was a tough drop after LSU won the SEC regular-season conference title with a 27-8 overall record in his first season. But Johnson vowed the future is bright for the program. LSU's 2010 recruiting class, which features four signees, is ranked 12th in the country by ESPN.com.</p><p>“Everything that's happened this year was — I don't want to say it was expected to the degree that it was, but the responsibility sits up here,” Johnson said. “My history dictates that I'll get it correct. Believe me.”</p><p> </p><p><b>Etc.</b></p><p>Former forward Bob Emrick (1954-57) was honored at halftime of Thursday night's game against Auburn as Florida's living legend. ... Emrick, who captained the 1956 and 1957 Gator teams, still ranks sixth in UF history in scoring (17.0 ppg) and seventh in rebounding (9.5 rpg.)</p>