University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: How It's Supposed To Be
November 24, 2003 | Lucas
Nov. 22, 2003
By Adam Lucas
Eventually, there will come a game when Roy Williams has to do more than just walk out on the Smith Center court to earn a standing ovation.
Eventually, there will come a game when the Tar Heels do not earn a boisterous cheer simply for going through their pregame routine, which features a crowd-pleasing defensive drill that includes the Heels diving on the floor twice.
Eventually, there will come a game when the shots don't fall, a big opponent takes advantage of Carolina inside, and the final score isn't pretty.
But for right now, who cares?
That really was Roy Williams on the Carolina sideline Saturday night against Old Dominion. Up until tipoff, you weren't sure that you believed it, were you? Was ol' Roy really the coach, or was it just a summer dream that was going to end with a cruel pinch?
For one night, Williams engineered everything like a dream. Let's see, rumor has it that Rashad McCants is a problem child? No big deal, ol' Roy will just send him out there and let him get his career high in assists with eight. McCants even swatted away any questions about his effort, as on one first-half play he had the ball stolen at the UNC free throw line, but dashed after the offending Monarch--who appeared to have a breakaway layup--and blocked his shot at the other end.
Let's see, Carolina has a depth problem? No big deal, ol' Roy will just summon a walkon, Justin Bohlander, and have him get four rebounds in 13 minutes of action.
Let's see, Jawad Williams gets zero first-half shots and rarely touches the ball on offense? No big deal, ol' Roy just makes sure that Jawad gets the ball on Carolina's first two second-half possessions, allowing the Cleveland junior to score four straight points to open the stanza.
Truth is, Carolina's new head coach doesn't deserve all the credit for all of the above. But for right now, he gets credit for everything up to and including the gorgeous Chapel Hill weather on Saturday.
The 2003-04 season has finally begun. No more talk about that school in the Big XII, no more asking him about the adjustment to Chapel Hill, no more asking him to relive his decision.
Only the things Williams loves--practice, his players, and games.
"That's number one," Williams said after the game. "And now we can talk about this year and that's going to be fun for me."
You can pick your favorite Williams moment from Saturday. But it would be hard to go wrong selecting the play when Byron Sanders suddenly had delusions of grandeur and launched a 17-foot jump shot.
The response from the Tar Heel sidelines? Williams--and yes, he really was standing on the Tar Heel sidelines, just look over there and there he was--turned both of his outstretched palms face up and gave Sanders a look like the Mississippi big man had just told him something crazy, like favoring Dunkin' Donuts over Krispy Kreme or something equally absurd.
Late in the game, with Carolina's 90-64 triumph long since assured, the students in the risers began a muffled chant. The new basketball coach thought he heard his name and turned his head to the risers, trying to decipher the chant. Then it became clear:
"We love Roy."
And the Tar Heel head coach--go ahead, say it again if it makes you feel better--the Tar Heel head coach smiled. Turned his head back to the court, then glanced back over to the students and gave a quick wave.
This is how it is supposed to be.
Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly and can be reached at alucas@tarheelmonthly.com. To subscribe to Tar Heel Monthly, click here.
