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North Carolina: Big, talented . . . and wound a little tight North Carolina: Big, talented . . . and wound a little tight
(about 3 hours later)
Roy Williams is in full March-mode. So, apparently, is his team. Roy Williams is in full March mode. So, apparently, is his team.
After North Carolina had worn down a good Pittsburgh team Thursday afternoon in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, someone asked Williams whether he thought the Tar Heels had benefitted from a lighter conference schedule in winning the regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the tournament over Virginia and Miami.After North Carolina had worn down a good Pittsburgh team Thursday afternoon in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, someone asked Williams whether he thought the Tar Heels had benefitted from a lighter conference schedule in winning the regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the tournament over Virginia and Miami.
Williams’ response was a rant. “You know what we didn’t have the benefit of? To make somebody say we have the easy schedule? We didn’t get to play North Carolina.” Williams’s response was a rant. “You know what we didn’t have the benefit of? To make somebody say we have the easy schedule? We didn’t get to play North Carolina.”
He paused, shook his head and said, “That’s a bunch of” garbage. He wasn’t finished, adding that his team did play at Louisville, at Virginia, at Notre Dame and twice against Duke. He paused, shook his head and said, “That’s a bunch of [garbage].” He wasn’t finished, adding that his team did play at Louisville, at Virginia, at Notre Dame and twice against Duke.
He smiled and added.“I solve that one?”He smiled and added.“I solve that one?”
North Carolina is 26-6, the ACC regular season champion, and has arguably better inside-outside balance than any team in the country. Yet it is pretty clear that these are skittish days in Tar Heel world. The ongoing NCAA investigation into the 18-year academic scandal, as chronicled by a UNC-sanctioned investigation, still hangs over Chapel Hill.North Carolina is 26-6, the ACC regular season champion, and has arguably better inside-outside balance than any team in the country. Yet it is pretty clear that these are skittish days in Tar Heel world. The ongoing NCAA investigation into the 18-year academic scandal, as chronicled by a UNC-sanctioned investigation, still hangs over Chapel Hill.
[After loss to North Carolina, Pitt will spend a few days on NCAA tournament bubble][After loss to North Carolina, Pitt will spend a few days on NCAA tournament bubble]
And with Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige playing their senior seasons and sophomore guard Justin Jackson at least a candidate to leave early, Williams knows he has a chance that may not come again for a while.And with Brice Johnson and Marcus Paige playing their senior seasons and sophomore guard Justin Jackson at least a candidate to leave early, Williams knows he has a chance that may not come again for a while.
That’s why he’s been reminding his team of something he said to his players in 2009, the last time Carolina won the national championship.That’s why he’s been reminding his team of something he said to his players in 2009, the last time Carolina won the national championship.
“I told that group that I’ve never seen a team that was any good that didn’t play really good defense,” Williams said, a little calmer once the subject of his schedule had passed. “That team played great defense at the end of the season, and that’s the reason why we won that year.”“I told that group that I’ve never seen a team that was any good that didn’t play really good defense,” Williams said, a little calmer once the subject of his schedule had passed. “That team played great defense at the end of the season, and that’s the reason why we won that year.”
Williams knows what a national championship team looks like — he has won two, in 2005 and ’09 — and what a Final Four team looks like: He coached four at Kansas and has coached three at Carolina. He knows this team has that kind of potential.Williams knows what a national championship team looks like — he has won two, in 2005 and ’09 — and what a Final Four team looks like: He coached four at Kansas and has coached three at Carolina. He knows this team has that kind of potential.
“No, I can’t count the number of times he’s told that story” about the ’09 team, Johnson said, smiling. “And I really don’t want to think about it.”“No, I can’t count the number of times he’s told that story” about the ’09 team, Johnson said, smiling. “And I really don’t want to think about it.”
Thursday’s game was an example of how good the Tar Heels can be. They started slowly but began to take control with a 10-0 run to end the half, keyed by guard Joel Berry, who twice made talented Pitt senior James Robinson look bad with steals.Thursday’s game was an example of how good the Tar Heels can be. They started slowly but began to take control with a 10-0 run to end the half, keyed by guard Joel Berry, who twice made talented Pitt senior James Robinson look bad with steals.
Johnson is Carolina’s star, and Paige is the guard Williams wants to focus on because he’s a senior, but Berry might be UNC’s most important player at both ends of the court. His line on Thursday went like this: 20 points on seven-of-eight shooting; three assists and four steals — in 29 minutes. Johnson is Carolina’s star, and Paige is the guard Williams wants to focus on because he’s a senior, but Berry might be UNC’s most important player at both ends of the court. His line on Thursday went like this: 20 points on 7-for-8 shooting; three assists and four steals — in 29 minutes.
“He was our offense in the first half,” Williams said.“He was our offense in the first half,” Williams said.
He also keyed the defense.He also keyed the defense.
In the second half, after Pitt drew within 57-55 on a layup by Michael Young with 10:48 to play, the Tar Heels’ brute strength simply wore down the Panthers. They went on a 27-10 run over the next eight minutes to put away the game. Young and Pitt’s inside players looked bruised and battered as Williams sent wave after wave of big bodies — Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Joel James — at them. Johnson, at 6-feet-10 and 230 pounds, is the smallest of the four.In the second half, after Pitt drew within 57-55 on a layup by Michael Young with 10:48 to play, the Tar Heels’ brute strength simply wore down the Panthers. They went on a 27-10 run over the next eight minutes to put away the game. Young and Pitt’s inside players looked bruised and battered as Williams sent wave after wave of big bodies — Johnson, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks and Joel James — at them. Johnson, at 6-feet-10 and 230 pounds, is the smallest of the four.
[Georgetown’s disappointing season ends with loss to Villanova][Georgetown’s disappointing season ends with loss to Villanova]
When Carolina gets rolling inside, it is almost an unstoppable force. Williams is unguardable when he catches the ball down low, and when Jackson works inside along with the wide bodies, the Tar Heels can play volleyball among themselves at times. Six days ago, they outrebounded Duke, 64-29. The margin Thursday was 30-25, but Pitt was the second-best rebounding team in the ACC. When Carolina gets rolling inside, it is almost an unstoppable force. Johnson is unguardable when he catches the ball down low, and when Jackson works inside along with the wide bodies, the Tar Heels can play volleyball among themselves at times. Six days ago, they outrebounded Duke, 64-29. The margin Thursday was 30-25, but Pitt was the second-best rebounding team in the ACC.
“We knew they out-rebounded us on the offensive boards 19-1 the last time we played them,” Johnson said, referencing an 85-64 Carolina win three weeks ago. There’s little doubt who pointed that statistic out to the players.“We knew they out-rebounded us on the offensive boards 19-1 the last time we played them,” Johnson said, referencing an 85-64 Carolina win three weeks ago. There’s little doubt who pointed that statistic out to the players.
The Tar Heels are deep; they are experienced; and for all the Ol’ Roy jokes, they are superbly coached.The Tar Heels are deep; they are experienced; and for all the Ol’ Roy jokes, they are superbly coached.
“Our bench was great today,” Williams said, thrilled because freshman guard Kenny Williams made his first three-pointer of the season and played solid defense.“Our bench was great today,” Williams said, thrilled because freshman guard Kenny Williams made his first three-pointer of the season and played solid defense.
“He can really slide his feet,” the coach said, channeling his mentor, Dean Smith by talking more in postgame about his 10th man than about his stars.“He can really slide his feet,” the coach said, channeling his mentor, Dean Smith by talking more in postgame about his 10th man than about his stars.
Of course Smith never would have responded to the scheduling question the way Williams did. He would have said something about Duke getting to play N.C. State and Wake Forest twice during the regular season and then claimed he was just guessing when he brought that up, that he really didn’t know Duke’s schedule by heart.Of course Smith never would have responded to the scheduling question the way Williams did. He would have said something about Duke getting to play N.C. State and Wake Forest twice during the regular season and then claimed he was just guessing when he brought that up, that he really didn’t know Duke’s schedule by heart.
What makes Williams so likeable are those moments when his fire comes out, especially at a moment when it’s least expected.What makes Williams so likeable are those moments when his fire comes out, especially at a moment when it’s least expected.
“This team isn’t as physically talented as the ’05 team or the ’09 team,” Williams said. “The ’05 team had four of the first 13 picks in the draft. The ’09 team had a first-rounder [national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough] and two second-rounders. I don’t think this group has that. But they’re working hard and getting better. That’s all I ask.”“This team isn’t as physically talented as the ’05 team or the ’09 team,” Williams said. “The ’05 team had four of the first 13 picks in the draft. The ’09 team had a first-rounder [national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough] and two second-rounders. I don’t think this group has that. But they’re working hard and getting better. That’s all I ask.”
With that, he hobbled away — knowing he probably will need a third knee surgery this summer — but also hoping his message about playing good defense is seeping through.With that, he hobbled away — knowing he probably will need a third knee surgery this summer — but also hoping his message about playing good defense is seeping through.
One thing about Ol’ Roy: There’s never any doubt about what’s on his mind. The media knows that. More importantly, so do his players.One thing about Ol’ Roy: There’s never any doubt about what’s on his mind. The media knows that. More importantly, so do his players.
For more by John Feinstein, visit washingtonpost.com/feinstein.