A former Top 125 recruit from Brother Rice HS in Detroit, Curtis Williams struggled from the field as a freshman at Louisville, averaging 5.2 points per game and shooting just 31 percent from the field in 32 games, with a combined 14 points in his last nine games for the Cardinals. With a coaching change at Louisville following its 8-24 season, Williams had previously been recruited by Georgetown coach Ed Cooley while at Providence College.

As a reserve forward, Williams averaged 4.7 points, playing in 33 of 34 games and starting in three, including the two College Basketball Crown games. A 15 point game on Jan. 11 versus UConn was a career high, but he managed double figures in only two of his final 16 games and went 2 for 15 from three point range over his final two games.