University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Lucas: Basketball Practice Notebook
October 28, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Featured Writers, Adam Lucas
Some notes and quotes as the Tar Heels have completed two weeks of practice.
By Adam Lucas
It's not Wanda Williams' fault.
Roy Williams' wife probably never wanted to be the subject of one of her husband's most feared phrases. But here we are, and Carolina's 2020-21 basketball team recently heard some of the most terrifying words in the head coach's lexicon:
"My wife is out of town."
The sentence is usually uttered as a warning that Williams has no one waiting on him at home, so he is free to spend as much time as he wants refining whatever particular area of the game is giving his team trouble on that day.
These days happen. To read most preseason stories, every basketball team is always destined for greatness. Every center has new post moves. Every guard's jump shot looks flawless. The team's chemistry is incredible.
But it's a simple fact of athletics that every team—even the very best—eventually has a bad practice. It's in the nature of head coaches that they see problems where others see normal. That's how their teams improve.
Williams wasn't pleased with his team's focus and unselfishness at a recent practice. As he supervised some additional running, he ran through a litany of Tar Heels who have achieved both team success and professional success.
"Marvin Williams never started a game here," the head coach said. "Think about that. He was picked number two in the draft. He didn't care about himself. Because if you win, you'll be taken care of."
The speech—which also included references to Sean May, now part of the basketball staff, and Cameron Johnson—ended with Williams addressing Garrison Brooks. The coach had Brooks recite the team achievements from his freshman and sophomore seasons. Then Williams reminded everyone that Brooks' junior season squad went 14-19.
"Which year was more fun?" Williams asked.
"Freshman and sophomore," Brooks said.
The head coach might as well have dropped a microphone. "That's someone who scored 35 points in a game last year," he said.
Notes: The usual summer procession of Carolina basketball alumni didn't happen as steadily this summer because of virus concerns that curtailed the usual summer pickup games. So it was especially nice to see Theo Pinson, Kenny Williams and Cameron Johnson at the Smith Center on Monday. Tyler Hansbrough has also worked out at the Smith Center. All alums are tested before they work out at the facility…Practices have a new element this fall. Hubert Davis ran some ballhandling drills this summer, and Williams liked them so much that Davis is running some of those same drills during quick opening periods at most practices…There's a new addition to this year's roster: junior varsity player Duwe (pronounced "Dewey," as in biscuits) Farris, a Charlotte native, was informed by Williams after Monday's practice that he has made the team. Farris will wear jersey 34 and the online roster has been updated...
Having the elder Johnson in town is a reminder of how important he was in his younger brother's college decision. "I talked to Cameron and all the coaches," Puff Johnson says. "He told me how good a fit Carolina would be and how good a coaching staff we have here. He gave me no negatives, and that was a big eye-opener, because I know he wants what's best for my future. He's not looking out for himself."…Pinson was shooting around at the Smith Center on Monday when Williams saw him swish five straight three-pointers. "No no no," Williams said as he fired a chest pass back to Pinson for his next shot (which he also drained). "You're a defensive player."…Expect news on a new location for the 2020 CBS Sports Classic later this week.
It's not Wanda Williams' fault.
Roy Williams' wife probably never wanted to be the subject of one of her husband's most feared phrases. But here we are, and Carolina's 2020-21 basketball team recently heard some of the most terrifying words in the head coach's lexicon:
"My wife is out of town."
The sentence is usually uttered as a warning that Williams has no one waiting on him at home, so he is free to spend as much time as he wants refining whatever particular area of the game is giving his team trouble on that day.
These days happen. To read most preseason stories, every basketball team is always destined for greatness. Every center has new post moves. Every guard's jump shot looks flawless. The team's chemistry is incredible.
But it's a simple fact of athletics that every team—even the very best—eventually has a bad practice. It's in the nature of head coaches that they see problems where others see normal. That's how their teams improve.
Williams wasn't pleased with his team's focus and unselfishness at a recent practice. As he supervised some additional running, he ran through a litany of Tar Heels who have achieved both team success and professional success.
"Marvin Williams never started a game here," the head coach said. "Think about that. He was picked number two in the draft. He didn't care about himself. Because if you win, you'll be taken care of."
The speech—which also included references to Sean May, now part of the basketball staff, and Cameron Johnson—ended with Williams addressing Garrison Brooks. The coach had Brooks recite the team achievements from his freshman and sophomore seasons. Then Williams reminded everyone that Brooks' junior season squad went 14-19.
"Which year was more fun?" Williams asked.
"Freshman and sophomore," Brooks said.
The head coach might as well have dropped a microphone. "That's someone who scored 35 points in a game last year," he said.
Notes: The usual summer procession of Carolina basketball alumni didn't happen as steadily this summer because of virus concerns that curtailed the usual summer pickup games. So it was especially nice to see Theo Pinson, Kenny Williams and Cameron Johnson at the Smith Center on Monday. Tyler Hansbrough has also worked out at the Smith Center. All alums are tested before they work out at the facility…Practices have a new element this fall. Hubert Davis ran some ballhandling drills this summer, and Williams liked them so much that Davis is running some of those same drills during quick opening periods at most practices…There's a new addition to this year's roster: junior varsity player Duwe (pronounced "Dewey," as in biscuits) Farris, a Charlotte native, was informed by Williams after Monday's practice that he has made the team. Farris will wear jersey 34 and the online roster has been updated...
Having the elder Johnson in town is a reminder of how important he was in his younger brother's college decision. "I talked to Cameron and all the coaches," Puff Johnson says. "He told me how good a fit Carolina would be and how good a coaching staff we have here. He gave me no negatives, and that was a big eye-opener, because I know he wants what's best for my future. He's not looking out for himself."…Pinson was shooting around at the Smith Center on Monday when Williams saw him swish five straight three-pointers. "No no no," Williams said as he fired a chest pass back to Pinson for his next shot (which he also drained). "You're a defensive player."…Expect news on a new location for the 2020 CBS Sports Classic later this week.
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