University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: ACC Media Day Notebook
October 26, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Oct. 26, 2008
By Adam Lucas
ATLANTA, Ga.--Sunday was the annual Atlantic Coast Conference media day, which was held in Atlanta this year. The departure from the frequent location of Greensboro meant lower media attendance (around 125 for an event that usually draws over 200).
Here's the format: first, one or two players from each team sit at a table while the various print media representatives circulate from table to table. While the players are meeting with the print media, the league's head coaches meet with the electronic media. That process continues for two hours, and then the players and coaches switch places, meaning that each school's representatives spend four hours answering questions.
It's probably the best way for the media to fill their preseason quota of preview stories, but it can be painful for the players and coaches.
Carolina's representatives, Danny Green and Wayne Ellington, were asked about the NBA a combined 21 times, with each question producing the same response: "I'm not really concerned about the NBA right now. I'm a college player and I'm excited about my college season." If it sounds a little bland on the first reading, imagine how they felt the 21st time they said it.
But they took the monotony with good humor. When he was into his second hour of print interviews, Green was asked about the high expectations for the 2009 Tar Heels. Expectations, of course, were the only question that was more popular than the NBA.
"Expectations?" Green said with a raised eyebrow. "Hmmm. That's a new one."
From the see it to believe it file: during the ice cream social portion of the afternoon (yes, really), players and coaches milled around in a lobby outside a hotel ballroom. In one corner, Roy Williams, Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, and Duke's Gerald Henderson were chatting amiably while enjoying their ice cream. The kicker: Henderson was holding a copy of the new ACC Basketball Handbook--which features Tyler Hansbrough on the cover.
Philly Fan: Wayne Ellington, a Philadelphia native, showed up Sunday morning sporting a black Toronto Blue Jays hat. But it turns out Ellington is actually a fan of the hometown Phillies. "We got to go to a game when I was playing with the Pan Am team," Ellington said. "We took some batting practice with some of the guys." It sounds like the sharpshooter won't be converting to baseball anytime soon, as he said he took considerable ribbing for a less-than-poetic follow-through on his swing.
Notes: Williams singled out the 1982, 1984, 2005, and 2008 Carolina teams as the best Tar Heel teams he's seen, along with the 1997 and 1998 Kansas squads. "Can we be one of the best?" he asked of this year's team. "Yes."...Today's ray of sunshine: Williams said he feels "very confident" he'll coach another 10 years...Ellington has been remarkably polished in these types of interview situations ever since arriving at Carolina. He credits his high school, Episcopal Academy, with part of that preparation, while giving most of the credit to someone else. "My mom always told me to have good character," he said. "She wasn't as concerned about my basketball. She was concerned about me being a successful young man."...
Green's father was in town for Late Night and hopes to attend several games this season. Green's brother, Rashad, has transferred to San Francisco, where he'll play for Williams protégé Rex Walters...Williams had to raise his voice at practice Thursday for the first time this season. You might be surprised at which Tar Heel stepped in to provide some leadership when his teammates started to get sloppy: Deon Thompson, who several team members have cited as this summer's most improved player...The results of the annual preseason ACC poll, plus the preseason All-ACC and Player of the Year/Rookie of the Year selections, will be announced by approximately 5 p.m.
Adam Lucas is the publisher of Tar Heel Monthly. He is also the author or co-author of four books on Carolina basketball.
