Alabama alumnus Williams rooting for ex-teammates
While the Jazz were busy beating Atlanta on Saturday night, Williams' old school, Alabama, was upsetting No. 1 seed Stanford.
That was bad news for Borchardt and fellow Stanford product Jarron Collins of the Jazz, but terrific news for Williams.
"Roll Tide, roll," Williams said.
Williams, a rookie guard who has stuck with the Jazz despite being a second-round draft choice, left Alabama after just two seasons. For that, he has no misgivings, though it's clear where his heart remains.
"I don't regret nothing I've done in my life," he said. "I mean, I'm with them. I love those guys. We had a real close team, so I . . . talk to 'em before every game. I talked to 'em (Saturday) morning.
"I went to a game during the All-Star break, and they embraced me just like I was still there," Williams added. "I mean, I love 'em with all my heart — and I hope the best for 'em. I'm behind 'em, just like I'm there."
"We're going to the Sweet 16, baby," Williams said. "How sweet can it be?"
RAUL'S WOES: Frustrated with how Raul Lopez struggled to get the Jazz into their offense in Saturday's second quarter, coach Jerry Sloan pulled the backup point guard early.
But Sloan gave Lopez a second chance in the second half, and the rookie from Spain responded.
"He did a much better job," Jazz swingman Raja Bell said of Lopez, who, bloody nose and all, finished with five assists and 10 points on 5-of-6 field shooting. "Him getting us into the offense like that and really settling us down . . . was critical."
"I feel good about the last quarter," added Lopez, who suggested patience was all it took.
Still, Sloan expects more, even from rookies like Lopez.
"That's something they've got to learn if they're gonna play in this league — that you've got to have some toughness to be able to stay in there, and put the ball where it's supposed to go, and go ahead and run the play," the Jazz coach said. "You either learn it, or somebody takes your job."
LOCAL GUYS: Ex-Jazz backup point guard Jacque Vaughn had three points on 3-of-4 free-throw shooting in 13 off-the-bench minutes for the Hawks.
Guard Travis Hansen did not play (coach's decision). The BYU product from Orem was reactivated March 1 after a stint on the injured list with a "stress reaction" in his foot.
RETRO NIGHT: Saturday was a "Retro Night," with the Jazz wearing jerseys patterned after those from 1979 and the Hawks wearing truly scary lime green uniforms from the mid-70s.
Old rhythm-and-blues act Peaches and Herb performed at halftime, and several ex-Hawk greats were in attendance, including Park City resident Lou Hudson.
The Hawks, by the way, are 0-4 wearing lime green this season. The Jazz are just 2-3 in retro-wear.
MISC.: Jazz All-Star forward Andrei Kirilenko — who had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his team-leading 20th double-double of the season — will be featured in the new issue of Slam magazine, on sale beginning Monday . . . Jazz center Greg Ostertag had 11 rebounds for the second time in four games . . . The Jazz have not scored more than 100 points in 35 of their last 36 games.
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com
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