"Terrence Williams had just completed a double-double impressive for any rookie, not to mention one who is 6-foot-6, when he was asked if he feels like he's playing the way he did in college.

The Louisville product's answer was surprising.

"I think [I'm playing] a lot better here than in college," Williams said after an 18-point, 13-rebound game in the Nets' 96-87 loss at Dallas on Wednesday. "Definitely because of the competition but in college more so, everything was on me for us to win the game. Now I get to move at my pace and just try what I can do to try to help us win."

Last week, Williams used the word "rocky" to describe his rookie season with the Nets, who play the Thunder tonight.

Williams got in trouble in December for wondering aloud - on his Twitter page - what life would be like for him if another team had drafted him. He also was late for a shootaround and benched in Chicago. Last month, interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe threw Williams out of a practice after a disagreement about him playing a little too flashy."