By Michael Perry
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Field Williams accepts that he forever will be known as a 3-point shooter. But even if nobody notices, the University of Cincinnati junior is expanding his repertoire.

He's playing better defense. He's shooting more mid-range shots off the dribble. He's driving to the basket and passing the ball.

"He's going to see a lot of minutes," coach Bob Huggins said.

"He's made a lot of improvement. Field works. He's one of those guys who's in the gym all the time. Field listens and tries. He really does. I don't know that Field had the urgency he needed to defend until maybe halfway through last year; I think he understands that now."

Williams and first-year junior Tony Bobbitt are competing for the starting job at shooting guard.

Huggins might go with Williams when UC plays its first exhibition game of the year, against Northern Kentucky Saturday night, because of his experience.

Aside from senior Leonard Stokes and sophomore Jason Maxiell, nobody else on the roster has played more Division I minutes than Williams, who has come off the bench the past two seasons.

"I know all the plays and I know what to expect," Williams said. "I feel like a veteran now. Coach needs me to be more vocal to help the new guys, so I've got to step it up."

The 6-foot-3 Houston native is sure to average more than the 14.9 minutes a game he played last season.

UC needs his offense. Williams averaged 6.5 points as a sophomore, scoring in double figures seven times. He shot .867 from the foul line and .431 from 3-point range, and his career 3-point percentage (.433) is better than his overall career field goal percentage (.429).

"Field's got the hard stuff out of the way, and that's shooting the basketball," assistant coach Keith LeGree said. "Once he gets open, he's going to knock it in. We're working on how to get open."

LeGree has tried to help Williams learn to read defenders, pump-fake more, take a hard dribble or two and pull up for shots.

Williams mostly has been a catch-and-shoot guy.

"I told him to help us in our program now he has to be able to create his own shot," LeGree said.

Williams also is learning to release his shots more quickly.

"I'm getting the confidence now that whenever I'm open, I'm going to let it go," Williams said.

Williams takes instruction from coaches well and tries to do what they ask. But LeGree, a former UC point guard, said Williams is sometimes too coachable and "doesn't want to go outside the boundaries."

If Williams misses four or five shots in a row, LeGree wants him to keep firing.

"He can't be a team guy all the time," LeGree said.

Defensively, Williams is starting to hold his own more.

Williams has better balance and is in better position this year, LeGree said, adding: "He's starting to get kind of mad when he gets beat and a guy scores, and that lets you know a guy is getting competitive on defense."

Lack of defense is why Williams didn't play much as a freshman. But the waiting should be over for him to make a bigger contribution.

"You've got to wait your turn and prove yourself," Williams said.

"Whatever it takes to get on the court, whether it's shooting, passing or defense ... I'm going to do it."

E-mail mperry@enquirer.com