'Big House'
Cager Phil Williams leads team off bench

By ROB AMEN
Collegian Sports Writer

He arrived last year as an inexperienced freshman loaded with talent. Due to a lack of depth, he started all but one game for the men's basketball team and finished the season with the experience of a seasoned veteran.

But forward Phil Williams found himself in a different situation when this season opened. A situation that put him on the bench during tipoffs.

Williams has not started any of the 23 games he has played in this season. Despite the changed environment, two things have remained the same -- Williams' role on the team and the fact that he is still an integral part of the Lions' program.

"I would have rather came off the bench last year," Williams said of his non-starting status. "It's fine with me. I come in off the bench --like I said -- it gives our team a different look. That's fine with me."

So when Penn State (15-9, 7-8 Big Ten) tips off against Ohio State (6-19, 2-13) at 8 p.m. tonight in Rec Hall, Williams will assume his now normal position on the bench at game time -- until Lion Coach Bruce Parkhill gives him the nod, usually midway through the first half.

Over the summer, though, it looked like Williams would start. Forward Matt Gaudio announced his retirement due to a lingering back injury, and the man known as "Big House" seemed poised to step in.

But forward Glenn Sekunda -- a transfer from Syracuse -- won the starting job in the preseason and has started ever since.

"It doesn't bother me at all," Williams said of his situation, adding that he and Sekunda each bring a different look to the lineup. "It doesn't really matter to me. I think we split the time equally. I'm satisfied with the way things are going."

However, if spectators would look at Williams' stat line, they may not share in his satisfaction. Heading into tonight's game, "The House" is averaging 3.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, yet averages 48.3 percent shooting from the field.

But Williams knows his role on the team, and scoring is not his top priority. Setting screens and rebounding are, he said.

"I just have to get other people open and crash the offensive and defensive boards," Williams added.

Although it may not be a glamorous job, Williams does it. In fact, he screens so well that he has grabbed the attention of some coaches around the league.

"Phil Williams is by far the best screener in the Big Ten," Wisconsin Coach Stan Van Gundy said after the Badgers lost to the Lions on Feb. 18. "He's very active in trying to get a piece of you, and he does a good job of getting people open."

At 6-foot-8, 265 pounds, Williams usually doesn't have any problems getting in defenders' ways to set his teammates free. Parkhill knows it and uses that to the Lions' advantage.

"Phil is very, very good at screening and that's a reflection of the position," Parkhill said.

Williams even does his job effectively in practice. In fact, some may even say he takes his job a bit too far.

"After the Purdue game (on Feb. 15), I had a little pain in my back," senior guard Donovan Williams said. "It was really no big thing. Then in practice, I was unfortunate enough to be in Big Phil's way and he plowed me."

Although he is in just his fifth year of organized basketball, it is apparent that Williams has made an impact on Big Ten and Penn State basketball.

"This is a team game," Williams said. "There's no 'I' in team. It's not like I did it. We did this . . . we played well together. I think that's just the way (the team is)."