TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Sitting in the visiting locker room of the Tallahassee Civic Center, Jason Williams found himself in an unusual and unexpected situation. He had just scored 26 points, shot 8-for-12 from behind the three-point arc, and nearly single-handedly orchestrated a furious 13-point comeback that enabled his Blue Devil teammates to take command of Sunday's contest against Florida State.
Despite being outworked, outhustled, and flat-out outplayed, Duke appeared poised to keep their nation-best 22-game winning streak alive.
"With about 10 minutes to go it looked like it was going to be a 20-25 point win for Florida State the way we were playing," coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "Jason gave us a lot of life, and all of a sudden he put us on his back for awhile. He's done that before, though."
Yet, up four points with only a minute remaining and many Florida State fans heading for the exits, Williams and teammate Mike Dunleavy missed all four of their free throw attempts, allowing the Seminoles new life, an opportunity Florida State wouldn't squander.
"Jason's a terrific player," Krzyzewski said afterwards. "It's too bad that he missed some free throws, [but] knowing him, he'll think of that more than the other stuff. That's what makes outstanding players-they want to take responsibility."
The loss represented a stunning paradox for Williams. The preseason player of the year dominated the second half, making difficult shot after difficult shot. But it was his six straight misses from the foul line, six uncontested looks from 15 feet away, that dominated the postgame barrage of questions from the national media.
Answering questions courteously, Williams satisfied his many questioners, and with the cameras and lights finally turned off, sat and reflected upon his startling inability to knock down a free throw.
"I'm really... annoyed that I had a chance to win the game, and I didn't," Williams said. "I look at it as [something] that will drive me for the rest of my college career. It's like somebody's taken something away from me."
Although only a junior, Williams performance in end game scenarios is already legendary. Against Maryland last January, his 10 points in the final minute of regulation propelled Duke to the most unlikely of victories. Earlier this season against Kentucky, Williams scored 38 points in Duke's overtime win.
Sitting courtside Sunday, one could see the confidence in Williams' eyes as he came up the court against the Seminole opposition. His previous late-game heroics appeared to fuel his 21-point outburst in the second half, something the junior confirmed after the game ended.
Yet, just as Williams' past success inspires a certain fearlessness, so too does his past failure create doubt.
Last season, the All-American endured a 1-of-17 slump from the foul line, a truly mindboggling figure for such an excellent jump shooter. When asked whether last year's free throw woes were on his mind during the second half of Sunday's game, Williams nodded in agreement.
"It is frustrating in a sense," he admitted. "When I think about last year I think about how I worked so much this year.... I just choked."
One of the things that makes Williams such an amazing athlete is not simply his unparalleled play on the court, but his tremendous composure off it.
After having to watch Dunleavy's missed putback roll off the rim from his back after being knocked to the floor, Williams was nearly trampled to death by the Florida State student body's stampede onto the court.
Afterwards, Williams spoke of the scary experience not with animosity nor hostility, but with a casual indifference.
"I think a couple people took some shots at me, but I'm alright," he said with a half-smile.
Williams also chose to view the Blue Devils' upset not as a bitter defeat, but as a stepping stone to postseason success.
"It's good in a sense because it is going to give us something to fight for now," he said. "I think we can be a little complacent sometimes, with always being on top. You think stuff's going to be given to you, but it's not. You have to go out and fight for it."
As for the free throw shooting? Williams feels that hard work is the only solution.
"I can guarantee you that tomorrow morning I will be out there working on it," he said.
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