Senior Williams closes LSU career with NIT loss
Senior forward Jermaine Williams was worried about how the crowd would react with the thoughts of a packed house during Tuesday’s matchup against Ball State.
He never wanted to think of the game as his last game he would ever play wearing an LSU uniform.
Williams said he was even worried about the crowd booing him if the Tigers didn’t play well.
But the standing ovation the crowd of over 12,500 fans in the PMAC gave him led him to tears of sadness, and, at the same time, four years worth of thank-yous by saying them was one of the most fun atmospheres he has ever played in.
“I appreciate [the ovation]. It was something I looked forward to my whole four years, and it finally came,” Williams said with visible tears in his eyes following the game. “I was praying at the start of tonight that I hoped it would never end.”
The senior went 1-of-4 from the field with four points and two rebounds in 35 minutes of action.
Head coach John Brady placed Williams on two of Ball State’s top scorers in guards Patrick Jackson and Chris Williams, but that was no surprise because Brady considered Williams one of the top defenders on the squad.
“I can’t say enough about Jermaine Williams and what he’s meant to our program. It’s like I told the Sixth Man Club before the game, Jermaine Williams is one of the finest young people that you will ever meet.”
Williams said he hopes he leaves a tradition of hustling every second on the floor for next year’s squad to model.
“I hope the coaches and the players remember what I gave, which was to play with intensity and the heart that I played with,” Williams said.
Brady said he expects the Tigers to compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament next season, and Williams, a Baton Rouge native, said he will be along for the ride as a loyal supporter.
“I’ll be around. I’ve got plans to go overseas and grad school, but I’ll be around to support them and the coaching staff,” Williams said.
Brady said he hopes he could have players like that for as long as he coaches the game of basketball.
“He’s motivated by his parents, he’s driven by his faith, and he’s been a pleasure to coach,” Brady said. “If I can coach guys like that in my career of coaching wherever it takes me or whatever happens, it will be a good job, a good ride for me.”
Williams finished his LSU career with 718 points along with 415 rebounds.
Larry Holder