Field Williams has heard the University of Cincinnati coaches mention it almost daily.

        If the sophomore guard wants more playing time this season, he must be better defensively.

        “He shoots the ball so well, (but) we need him to not hurt us in other areas,” UC coach Bob Huggins said. “It's about doing everything other than shooting the ball. I didn't play him a year ago because he couldn't defend.”

        Williams can shoot. On that, everyone agrees.

        All but five of his field goals last season were from behind the 3-point line. His 3-point percentage (.438) was best on the team (excluding guys who attempted fewer than 10).

        During the offseason, he set out to become more than a spot-up shooter. Williams worked on his ballhandling and his ability to create his own shot. Twice during an intrasquad scrimmage Saturday, he used picks and drove right to the basket for layups.

        “On this level, you've got to do more than just dribble and shoot,” he said. “You've got to know the whole game, and that's what I'm trying to do.”

        “Offensively, the area he needed to work on he's definitely improved on,” assistant coach Dan Peters said. “Now if he really wants to get minutes, and substantial minutes or quality minutes, he's going to have to play good defense.”

        Williams appeared in 32 of 34 games as a freshman and averaged 7.3 minutes. His 3-point shooting excites the home crowd; his inability to stop his man incites Huggins.

        “He might not be the best on-the-ball defender,” Peters said. “But what he can be is a good team defensive player, so he needs to be aware of his position on the floor.

        “I think he should be further along in terms of awareness of where he is on the floor at the defensive end after being here a year.”

        SCRIMMAGE REPORT: Senior Steve Logan, playing with a sprained right thumb, scored a game-high 27 points and Rod Flowers pitched in 10 points to lead the “Black” team to a 61-55 victory in UC's scrimmage Saturday.

        Donald Little and Jamaal Davis each scored 14 to lead the “White” team.

        INJURY UPDATES: Junior Leonard Stokes was heavily bandaged above his left eye; he received seven stitches after bumping heads with Flowers during Wednesday's practice. Early in the second half of Saturday's scrimmage, Stokes ran into Hubbard and hit the same spot. He went to the locker room for treatment and finished with seven points.

        HONORED: Stokes was among 15 UC student-athletes honored Friday night at a black-tie affair for the highest academic achievement in his sport. The Legion of Excellence Celebrating Academic Victories is a new creation of the athletic department.

        RECRUITING UPDATE: Alexander Johnson, a 6-foot-9 forward from Albany, Ga., was scheduled to make a recruiting visit to UC this weekend but canceled citing a death in the family. Nothing has been rescheduled.

        WOMEN START: The UC women's team has its first exhibition game Thursday night against the Ohio Legends (7p.m., Shoemaker Center).

Louisville 28, UC 13 UC basketball notebook

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Newport Central Catholic 28, Beechwood 23
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Girls cross country regional
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Kentucky state volleyball tournament