UNC Basketball: Roy Williams comments on matchup with Arkansas

Roy Williams on North Carolina’s matchup with fast-paced Arkansas

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their first round matchup with Texas Southern in convincing fashion, beating the 16th-seeded Tigers 103-64.

The Tar Heels are now preparing for a second round game against the No. 8 seed Arkansas, one that’s likely to see a lot of running, and a lot of points.

North Carolina and Arkansas met in the NCAA Tournament as recently as 2015, when the 4th-seeded Tar Heels beat the 5th-seeded Razorbacks 87-78 for the right to move on to the Sweet 16.

In his Saturday afternoon presser, Coach Williams was asked about that game, in comparison to Sunday’s round of 32 game, and if it could provide any insight into the planning and preparation necessary to win and move on to this year’s Sweet 16.

"“I don’t think it can give you much,” Williams said. “Their whole team, look at their roster, on our scouting report everybody’s a junior or senior there. Been through it. Some of those guys were playing at that time. But most of them were not, or half and half, probably. But I know we won. I know it was a very aggressive game. I know I felt going into the game exactly how I feel right now, that we’ve got to attack, attack, attack, under control and not turn the ball over.”"

Arkansas does, however, play the same frenetic, fast-paced style of basketball under head coach Mike Anderson that they did two years ago. Williams was asked if the Razorbacks’ style of play would work in favor of the Tar Heels on Sunday.

"“Well, I don’t know if I’d say we thrive because of all those athletes we have, Williams said. “We’re good in a fast pace, which is the way we always play. The difference is if you play at a fast pace and you turn it over, it’s not good. If we get the shot that we all want and go up and down the court, that is familiarity for us. We do want a fast pace. Arkansas wants a fast pace. They really guard the Dickens out of you in full court. And we try to guard you in half-court situation. It’s a different philosophy there. But we’ve got to make sure we’re not careless, we’re not casual, we’re not cool. Those three C words I don’t like at all. If you’re careless, casual or cool when you’re playing with them, you’re going back home.”"

And given the uncertain status of junior point guard Joel Berry II, Williams has been answering a lot of questions about his plan for the Tar Heels’ backcourt if the second team All-ACC selection cannot play on Sunday.

"“Well, Nate Britt, Seventh Woods, Stilman White, those guys have to share the time,” Williams told reporters. “None of those guys have done as good a job as Joel, shooting over 40 percent from the 3-point line. Nate shot it well last night, I think made two 3s last night, was five assists on our chart, no turnovers. Stilman can shoot the basketball, Seventh has tremendous speed and quickness. If I can put all three of them together and have one player at the end, I wouldn’t be that worried. But Joel has been one of our leaders and not just by scoring or shooting 3-point shots, but the way he plays defense. But we can’t go out and draft anybody. So we’ve gotta figure out somebody to play.”"

North Carolina will face off against Arkansas at approximately 6:10 EST on Sunday night.

Stick with Keeping It Heel for all your North Carolina basketball news and updates as well as continued coverage of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.