Before Kamiko Williams found herself in the starting lineup, she found herself in the middle of a point-guard cram-session.

UT coach Pat Summitt spent extra time drilling the athletic true freshman on the finer points of Tennessee's offense last week.

"I knew the names (of plays), and I knew the signals," Williams said. "But I didn't know who does what. I didn't know what the posts are supposed to do, who to look for first, who to look for second. Now I know the order. I know what the posts are supposed to do. Now I can lead people."

To get there, Williams spent time watching film. Then Summitt had Williams draw plays on paper and write down all the options. Then she had to explain the plays back to Summitt, as if Williams was the teacher.

Then it went to the hardwood.

"When we got on the court, she said 'Meko, run the point.' She'd call a play, and I had to run it right off the bat," Williams said. "I couldn't ask questions."

By then, though, Williams had the right answers.

"It felt great," she said. "At first, I was like, 'I don't know if I'm going to have to run or if I'm going to be in trouble.' But now, it's like, 'You want me to run that? OK. No problem. I can do that.'"

She's already had a major impact.

On Sunday, her 17 points and four assists helped the Lady Vols avoid an upset on the road at South Carolina. And her impact could continue to grow as well.

She'll start Thursday night's game against Arkansas (TV: FSS, 7 p.m.), and she'll have the confidence to know what she's doing thanks to last week's extra work.

"I don't have to ask her... I know right off the bat," Williams said. "I know all the options that we have. I feel a lot more comfortable. I feel a lot better."