Brice Williams keeps finding ways to fill it up in the NBA Summer League.
The former Nebraska guard was the top scorer in Wednesday night’s game, dropping 24 points for the Detroit Pistons in a loss to the Phoenix Suns. It was his second 20-point performance in just four summer league appearances, a sign that his scoring touch has carried over quickly.
Williams first cracked the 20-point mark on Sunday against Cleveland, when he finished with 21. Against the Suns, he was efficient from all three levels, going 7-of-13 from the field, 3-of-6 from 3-point range and 5-of-7 at the line. He added six rebounds and four assists to round out another strong showing.
Through four games, Williams is averaging just under 15 points and five rebounds per contest.
His production in the summer league comes on the heels of a huge final season at Nebraska. Williams averaged 20.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, finishing second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in scoring. He also set a school record with 713 points in his senior year and became the fourth player in Nebraska history to score 1,000 points in two seasons.
Williams is one of four Huskers in the NBA Summer League right now. Sam Hoiberg was on the other side Wednesday night with the Suns, while Rienk Mast is putting together a strong run with the Indiana Pacers and Josiah Allick is with the Charlotte Hornets.
In Other News...
Former Husker Dante Dowdells Football Future Is Suddenly In Doubt
Dante Dowdells football path has taken an abrupt and troubling turn, with the former Nebraska running back now dealing with serious injuries after an ATV accident near his home in Mississippi. Dowdell, who transferred to Georgia after leaving Lincoln, had been part of the Bulldogs backfield plans as he looked to carve out a role in his latest stop.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart confirmed Dowdell is hospitalized in Atlanta, and the situation has cast immediate uncertainty over when, or whether, he will be able to return to the field. For a player still trying to establish himself after multiple transfers, the bigger concern now is recovery, with the football question pushed far into the background. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Drama Gives Nebraska Fans Another Reason To Feel Good
Michigans latest off-field mess is the kind of development Nebraska fans can appreciate from a distance, especially with the Wolverines now dealing with the fallout from an investigation tied to former coach Sherrone Moores conduct. The summary released by Michigan only added to the sense that the program is still sorting through a serious internal issue, and it comes at a time when the Big Tens biggest brands are already under a brighter-than-usual spotlight.
For Nebraska, the more welcome part of the day came on the recruiting front, where commits Trae Taylor and Tay Ellis were recognized as one of the nations top quarterback-receiver pairings and the only committed duo from the same school on the list. Add in former Husker pitcher Aaron Bummer landing a minor league deal with the Royals, and it was the kind of news cycle that gave Nebraska supporters a little of everything, even if the biggest question around Michigan is still hanging out there. [Read more 🡒]
Eli Drinkwitz Took A Cheap Shot At The Big Ten Again
Eli Drinkwitz has never been shy about needling the Big Ten, and his latest swipe landed on the conferences scheduling habits. The Missouri coach pointed to the way Big Ten teams build their non-conference slates, arguing that the leagues recent national title success has come with a softer runway than what some other power conferences typically face.
For Nebraska, the comment is more than just another round of conference chatter because the Cornhuskers live in that same scheduling world and have to navigate it every fall. The bigger issue is whether the Big Tens postseason results really support Drinkwitzs theory, especially when recent title runs have come with plenty of wins over top opponents and when other leagues, including the SEC, have also leaned on lighter non-conference setups of their own. [Read more 🡒]