University of North Carolina Athletics
Garrison Brooks has been a force on the offensive glass.
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
GoHeels Exclusive: Pre-Kentucky Notebook
December 21, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers
By Pat James, GoHeels.com
A day after it was announced that Roy Williams signed an eight-year contract extension with North Carolina, Kenny Williams was asked during Thursday's pre-Kentucky media availability if he was surprised by the news.
"I think he wants to coach until his last day," the senior guard told reporters at the Smith Center. "So, it's not really a surprise to me. I was talking with a couple of people last night and I was telling them I think he'll end up coaching all eight years."
But does Roy Williams see himself coaching through the 2027-28 season, when his new deal expires?
"Somebody sees me doing that; I don't know who, but somebody does," he said, laughing. "Maybe six or eight years ago, I said I felt like I'd coach at least six or eight more years, 5-10 or 5-9, something like that. So I think I've done that. Recently, I've been saying as long as I feel good and have my health.
"I enjoy what I'm doing, I really do. It's fun. You face some adversity, you face some tough times. But that's part of life, too. For me, I was very flattered by the comments that were made."
Here are three other notes from Thursday's availability, leading up to Saturday's game against No. 19 Kentucky in Chicago:
'Pick your poison'
Through 10 games, the ninth-ranked Tar Heels have posted a rebound margin of +14.1, which leads the nation and is ahead of UNC's school-record margin of +12.3 set in 2016-17.
Much of this rebounding success has come on the offensive glass. According to kenpom.com, Carolina ranks fifth nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (39.8). It has outrebounded opponents 145-92 on the offensive boards, leading to a 183-97 edge on second-chance points.
In Saturday's win over then-No. 4 Gonzaga, the Tar Heels held a 27-0 advantage on second-chance points.
"When people play us, there's a lot of things you do to get ready for some team," Roy Williams said. "One thing people do for us is try to get back and play better transition defense. So one way to do that is to take your guys off the board. I think (Gonzaga coach) Mark's (Few) team made a conscious effort to not get caught trying to offensive rebound and then having to defend our fast break when we had a great advantage. So, I think that one was unusual, I've never seen 27-0.
"Tim Floyd's one of the best coaches I've ever coached against, and when we played Iowa State, the guy that shot the ball and the five man – they'd send three guys back on defense. You get to pick your poison. I like to go to the boards, so we may give up some things on the other end, too. Teams may be able to fast break us because I like to go to the boards and get more stuff there. But you pick your poison."
Brooks' development
UNC's biggest contributor on the offensive glass has been Garrison Brooks, who paces the team with 28 offensive rebounds. According to kenpom.com, he ranks 17th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (15.9).
Last season, Brooks hauled in 15 offensive boards through his first 10 games and finished his freshman campaign with 61.
"The biggest thing is he's realizing you can't get any rebounds unless you go," Roy Williams said. "So, he's going to the boards, and sometimes they fall in his hands and sometimes he goes and gets it. He's done a nice job in the weight room improving his bounce, improving his strength, and he's not letting somebody box him out easily."
On defense, Brooks has continued his solid play.
After being named Carolina's defensive player of the game eight times as a freshman, he's won the honor four times this season. No other Tar Heel has won more than once.
"He's the more stable one," Roy Williams said. "He'll make fewer errors. … We only had one guy qualify for the defensive award in the Gonzaga game, and that was Garrison. Nobody else even qualified. So we've got a lot we can do there. But you trust him more."
Woods showing promise
Seventh Woods proved key in the win over Gonzaga, scoring UNC's final eight points of the first half and finishing with a career-high 14. Over the last two games, he's averaged 10.5 points and shot 64.3 percent (9-for-14) from the field.
"He's just being aggressive – and that's all I've wanted from him," Kenny Williams said. "Don't go out there and not necessarily hunt for your shot, but if something is there, then attack. That's all I've been begging and pleading for him (to do) all season, to be aggressive and to attack at all times, especially in transition because he's so quick and he's so athletic that he can get to the rim and finish."
Fully healthy for the first time in his college career, Woods has looked more like the player who Roy Williams recruited this season than he did during his first two in Chapel Hill. But Roy Williams said there are still areas Woods can improve in.
"He's still not doing the things I've seen him do that nobody else has seen him do …" Roy Williams said. "He's still gotta not turn the ball over and stay in front of the ball on defense; because if a point guard does that, I can play you. Those are still the two biggest things he's gotta do. But he's been huge for us in a couple of games."
A day after it was announced that Roy Williams signed an eight-year contract extension with North Carolina, Kenny Williams was asked during Thursday's pre-Kentucky media availability if he was surprised by the news.
"I think he wants to coach until his last day," the senior guard told reporters at the Smith Center. "So, it's not really a surprise to me. I was talking with a couple of people last night and I was telling them I think he'll end up coaching all eight years."
But does Roy Williams see himself coaching through the 2027-28 season, when his new deal expires?
"Somebody sees me doing that; I don't know who, but somebody does," he said, laughing. "Maybe six or eight years ago, I said I felt like I'd coach at least six or eight more years, 5-10 or 5-9, something like that. So I think I've done that. Recently, I've been saying as long as I feel good and have my health.
"I enjoy what I'm doing, I really do. It's fun. You face some adversity, you face some tough times. But that's part of life, too. For me, I was very flattered by the comments that were made."
Here are three other notes from Thursday's availability, leading up to Saturday's game against No. 19 Kentucky in Chicago:
'Pick your poison'
Through 10 games, the ninth-ranked Tar Heels have posted a rebound margin of +14.1, which leads the nation and is ahead of UNC's school-record margin of +12.3 set in 2016-17.
Much of this rebounding success has come on the offensive glass. According to kenpom.com, Carolina ranks fifth nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (39.8). It has outrebounded opponents 145-92 on the offensive boards, leading to a 183-97 edge on second-chance points.
In Saturday's win over then-No. 4 Gonzaga, the Tar Heels held a 27-0 advantage on second-chance points.
"When people play us, there's a lot of things you do to get ready for some team," Roy Williams said. "One thing people do for us is try to get back and play better transition defense. So one way to do that is to take your guys off the board. I think (Gonzaga coach) Mark's (Few) team made a conscious effort to not get caught trying to offensive rebound and then having to defend our fast break when we had a great advantage. So, I think that one was unusual, I've never seen 27-0.
"Tim Floyd's one of the best coaches I've ever coached against, and when we played Iowa State, the guy that shot the ball and the five man – they'd send three guys back on defense. You get to pick your poison. I like to go to the boards, so we may give up some things on the other end, too. Teams may be able to fast break us because I like to go to the boards and get more stuff there. But you pick your poison."
Brooks' development
UNC's biggest contributor on the offensive glass has been Garrison Brooks, who paces the team with 28 offensive rebounds. According to kenpom.com, he ranks 17th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage (15.9).
Last season, Brooks hauled in 15 offensive boards through his first 10 games and finished his freshman campaign with 61.
"The biggest thing is he's realizing you can't get any rebounds unless you go," Roy Williams said. "So, he's going to the boards, and sometimes they fall in his hands and sometimes he goes and gets it. He's done a nice job in the weight room improving his bounce, improving his strength, and he's not letting somebody box him out easily."
On defense, Brooks has continued his solid play.
After being named Carolina's defensive player of the game eight times as a freshman, he's won the honor four times this season. No other Tar Heel has won more than once.
"He's the more stable one," Roy Williams said. "He'll make fewer errors. … We only had one guy qualify for the defensive award in the Gonzaga game, and that was Garrison. Nobody else even qualified. So we've got a lot we can do there. But you trust him more."
Woods showing promise
Seventh Woods proved key in the win over Gonzaga, scoring UNC's final eight points of the first half and finishing with a career-high 14. Over the last two games, he's averaged 10.5 points and shot 64.3 percent (9-for-14) from the field.
"He's just being aggressive – and that's all I've wanted from him," Kenny Williams said. "Don't go out there and not necessarily hunt for your shot, but if something is there, then attack. That's all I've been begging and pleading for him (to do) all season, to be aggressive and to attack at all times, especially in transition because he's so quick and he's so athletic that he can get to the rim and finish."
Fully healthy for the first time in his college career, Woods has looked more like the player who Roy Williams recruited this season than he did during his first two in Chapel Hill. But Roy Williams said there are still areas Woods can improve in.
"He's still not doing the things I've seen him do that nobody else has seen him do …" Roy Williams said. "He's still gotta not turn the ball over and stay in front of the ball on defense; because if a point guard does that, I can play you. Those are still the two biggest things he's gotta do. But he's been huge for us in a couple of games."
Players Mentioned
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