Mike Williams

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jrdupe
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Mike Williams

Post by jrdupe » Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:36 am

Just saw on Twitter that Mike Williams died...anyone else hear this? Terrible - one of the most clutch players we ever had

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InnervisionsUMASS
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by InnervisionsUMASS » Fri Jul 30, 2021 10:40 am

Saw it on FB but couldn't get any confirmation. Brutal. Far too young.


EDIT: From Howard Herman: https://twitter.com/howardherman/status ... 44134?s=20
Sad to hear of the passing of former UMass hoop player Mike Williams. He made the big shot in the 1994 UMass win over Temple that preceeded the Mullins Center dustup between Calipari and Chaney. Might have been the best game I ever saw in the Bill. RIP.
Stop waiting for UMass to do something big and help UMass do something big. - Shades

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Re: Mike Williams

Post by tom mclaughlin » Fri Jul 30, 2021 11:18 am

May he RIP! I have always said playing basketball at UMass is all about family. Mike had some wonderful moments wearing a UMass uniform and made big shot after big shot always avoiding the spotlight. He had tremendous moments in the Mullins Center and made it a tough place for teams to come into. I was happy to read he was working with young kids after he finished playing and they had nothing but great things to say about him. Gone way too young.

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LS71
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by LS71 » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:33 pm

Donta Bright posted info on his FB page. No official obit anywhere yet.

Thanks for the memories. RIP, Mike!
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chapter 11
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by chapter 11 » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:45 pm

Not one of the most clutch, rather the most clutch. He made my UMass years that much more entertaining. Can't count all of the game winners although I'm sure someone has. Sad.

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DirSport
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by DirSport » Fri Jul 30, 2021 2:15 pm

Very sad and shocking news. It will come as no surprise to board members that I never had a better job nor had more fun doing a job than during my four seasons of UMass radio play-by-play, and the young man they called "Uzi" was a big reason why. I've gone back through the 91-95 period and identified no fewer than seven games that Mike won with clutch baskets late in regulation or in overtime (sometimes both), as well as what was likely his best overall game as a Minuteman -- the 1993 Abdow's Holiday Classic championship vs. Maryland. Audio links appear below. You'll want to fast-forward toward the end of each track.

Enjoy these memorable moments as you reflect back on the times of the guy who put on the show for us all. Rest well, Mike. You'll be missed.

1993 at Rutgers - https://soundcloud.com/user-125347718/u ... s-01121993
1993 at GW - https://soundcloud.com/user-125347718/u ... n-02131993
1993 vs. North Carolina (NIT) - https://soundcloud.com/user-125347718/u ... a-11241993
1993 at Oklahoma - https://soundcloud.com/user-125347718/u ... a-11281993
1993 vs. Maryland - https://soundcloud.com/user-125347718/u ... d-12291993
1994 vs. Temple - https://soundcloud.com/user-125347718/u ... e-02131994
1994 at Temple - https://soundcloud.com/user-125347718/u ... e-02241994
1995 at West Virginia - https://soundcloud.com/user-125347718/u ... 5-complete
Last edited by DirSport on Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Jackson96
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by Jackson96 » Fri Jul 30, 2021 2:53 pm

25 years later I still have a hard time believing that WVU comeback happened.
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Old Cage
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by Old Cage » Fri Jul 30, 2021 7:17 pm

No matter how many of George's audio clips I listen to, Mikey keeps hitting the shot. Amazing.
"Jack didn’t have any envy in him," Calipari said. "He was the greatest coach to ever coach here."

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Re: Mike Williams

Post by KahunaK » Fri Jul 30, 2021 7:38 pm

Did he call bank at Temple?

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Re: Mike Williams

Post by stevemaz » Sat Jul 31, 2021 7:32 am

RIP #10. One of my all time favorite Minutemen.

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Quann
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by Quann » Sat Jul 31, 2021 11:17 am

So sad, didn’t expect him to be gone so young. Loved watching him as a kid, I was 11 when he came to UMass. So many clutch game winners from him.

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m626t
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by m626t » Sat Jul 31, 2021 8:50 pm

All due respect, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart, I'm gonna pass.

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Re: Mike Williams

Post by Floyd » Sun Aug 01, 2021 5:46 am

As someone in that article said, he was silky smooth. Never afraid to take the big shot, ice water in his veins. Will always be remembered for hitting those clutch shots, and it sounds like he had a positive impact on younger kids.

Sad to hear of his passing, he'll always be part of that great UMass basketball era
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RageintheCage
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by RageintheCage » Mon Aug 02, 2021 9:30 pm

Really sorry to hear this. Mike Williams was clutch beyond clutch. I will never forget storming the court in 94 after that shot against Temple. I can still see him rise up for that mid range floater that you just knew would go in. Rest in Peace Mike, you gave me a ton of thrills. Way too soon.

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Merlin Samuels
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Re: Mike Williams

Post by Merlin Samuels » Wed Aug 11, 2021 11:30 am

RIP Mike Williams.

I hope he is honored in some form is coming season. I know we all have said it, but had he remained on that 1994-95 team, we might have a really big banner in the Mullins Center.

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