"The basketball was rolling on the floor and we're tiptoeing through the freaking tulips reaching over to get the ball," said Roy Williams about his Tar Heels team on Saturday. Boy, was he steamed.
If you play basketball for Coach Williams at Carolina, you'd better get after it. If you don't, you're going to the bench.
Early in the second half of UNC's 75-63 win over Kentucky, the Wildcats were making a run and Williams didn't like what he was seeing. Not at all. As ol' Roy would say, he was doggone mad. He pulled all five of his starters, and didn't even acknowledge them as they came to the bench. His message was clear as a pure glass of water.
"We're going to dive after the ball," Williams said after the game. "We had four guys daintily trying to get the ball. If it's on the floor it's Carolina's basketball, and if you're not going to get it, I'll get somebody else in who will."
Carolina got it loud and clear and the Tar Heels, despite not playing their best, played well enough to beat a decent Kentucky team, and they did it basically without Tyler Hansbrough. The big sophomore shot just 2 of 10 from the floor, scored just six points and had just three rebounds.
But this is a Tar Heel team that is just so deep and that can beat you in so many ways and with so many people. On Saturday with Hansbrough struggling, freshman Wayne Ellington poured in 17 points, while his freshman running mate, Brandan Wright -- he of the long arms -- added 16 more. And the good Reyshawn Terry showed up against Kentucky with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Coming off the emotional, run-and-shoot game against Ohio State, UNC was somewhat flat, didn't shoot well, didn't rebound well and their star was a no- factor. But they won.
This is a young team that is so talented and and has so many players who have the potenital to stick the dagger in.
And with Williams as coach, you'd better believe they'll play hard and with intensity. If not, then enjoy the game from the bench, because on this team there's plenty more who can take your place.
