NCAA Tournament: Roy Williams speaks at pre-Final Four press conference
Roy Williams speaks at Friday’s pre-Final Four press conference
We’re less than 24 hours away from the Final Four, and North Carolina head coach Roy Williams spoke to the media on Friday about a variety of topics including one-and-done players, Theo Pinson’s impact on the team and Luke Maye’s newfound stardom.
Williams began with a short address to media members, explaining that he wasn’t feeling well, but that practice went well and he’s both excited and nervous for Saturday night’s game against Oregon.
Related Story: North Carolina/Oregon hype video
"“Right now bad sinus cold, I think. I hope that’s all it is,” Williams said. “I can’t talk. I can yell a little bit. So we’ve already practiced, so everything is okay. But it’s getting to be closer and closer, so that makes it more exciting. And more scary, too, because I’ve watched more Oregon tape. So it’s a little bit of both, more exciting and more scary.”"
Williams was asked about his take on college basketball’s one-and-done rule, in regards to having experience-laden teams over the past two seasons.
"“I would like to have some of those guys,” Williams said. “I tried to recruit them, too, for us. . .I’d love to have a great mix, would be my best choice, to have guys that you think are going to be around three or four years. But you always like to have that talent of the one-and-dones as well.Everyone would choose experience talent over everything. But when you play golf some guys like to hit a draw, some guys like to hit a fade, you’re still trying to get to the middle of the fairway. That’s the way it is in basketball — you choose how you can recruit successfully and try to stick with that and try to get the best players you can that are willing to make those sacrifices.But there’s no perfect rule. I don’t think LeBron made a mistake, and yet there’s a lot of guys that did make a mistake. . .But I do think that that’s what college basketball is. It’s different guys having different ways to do things.”"
Williams was asked about Theo Pinson’s role and how his lighthearted nature and comedic approach impacts the team.
"“He is a very shy youngster, as you can tell,” Williams laughed. “I know it’s very difficult for him to be involved in crowds. But that’s who Theo is.It’s harder that he ran back on defense all frickin’ year. (Laughter). Truth hurts, big fella. But I do think he’s good for our team. Everybody’s got their own personality and I do try to let guys be themselves as long as it’s not harmful or takes away from what we’re trying to do.And I think he’s a guy that everybody truly enjoys. And people enjoy laughing at him as well as they do with him. And he’s full fledged. He gives you reasons for both.”"
And of course, the man of the moment, Luke Maye, was again a topic of discussion in today’s press conference. The Hall-of-Fame coach was asked about the sophomore power forward’s newfound fame in Chapel Hill and in the world of college basketball.
"“I think one of the things Justin [Jackson] said that really sticks out with me is that everybody on the team is very proud of him, very happy for him, but they also realize how much work he put in and what he does in the weight room and the work he’s done in the offseason to try to make himself be a better player. Williams continued, “And so I think everyone is happy that that’s been justified by how much work he did put in. And he was in the right spot at the right time and he made the right play.”"
Related Story: UNC Recruiting Roundup
North Carolina and Oregon tip at 8:49 ET on Saturday night in Phoenix, Arizona.
Stick with Keeping It Heel for continued coverage of the North Carolina Tar Heels and their march through the 2017 NCAA Tournament.