CHAPEL HILL — Roy Williams has made a habit of spitting in the Mississippi River for luck during the NCAA tournament — he did it in 1982 as an assistant coach, when the Tar Heels won the national championship in New Orleans, and again in 2005, when he led UNC to his first national title as a head coach in St. Louis.
So will he do it this week, when Carolina plays the Sweet 16 in Memphis?
"I'll have to look back on it and see if I've been successful,'' he said. "St Louis — that one worked pretty good. Yeah, probably."
His real conundrum is whether to add a new superstition, add a throw of the dice, to the mix.
"I'm just trying to think if I should go shoot craps,'' he said. "I shot craps in Detroit [earlier this season], and we played pretty well against Michigan State. Shot craps in Reno and we won. And Tunica's 30 miles south of Memphis, so I've got to decide that. Somebody will say, 'Oh, you shouldn't be doing that.' But I don't sleep anyways, so I might as well do something."
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Coaching Expertise
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 20:38 — rbl1944UNC1dmo,
If you are so adept at coaching, why don't you offer your services to UVA?
This season is not a failure if we don't win the championship. Only a hopeless fool thinks like that! Of course, many of us will be disappointed, but you have to remember, there are many talented teams out there, all competing for the same prize.
Roy is a great coach. Let him make the decisions, and the rest of us will go along for the ride.
My question is...
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 14:02 — JPDOhioCan he spit and roll dice at the same time? Also wondering if he can walk and chew "dadgum" at the same time.
A Tournament LOSER every year at Kansas
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 11:22 — unc1dmoAs A Tournament Dance LOSER every year at Kansas....i sure hope that is one superstition he drops........
And contrary to his answer today on Mike & Mike that:
"this would be a SUCCESSFUL season if UNC does not get to the Final 4"........WHAT is this guy Smokin?
Only ROY BOY can screw this year up.......like 2005....he has enough talent that the players can win in spite of him...
BUT...only IF. guys like ED DAVIS, their only enforcer.......are allowed to START and PLAY 30-35 minutes.
Failure to add A championship banner in the rafters this season is ....FAILURE........... for a team with this much talent.....
idiot
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 12:24 — gvillegatr"Only ROY BOY can screw this year up.......like 2005....he has enough talent that the players can win in spite of him..."
You could prolly make this statement for any team who wins the championship IN ANY SPORT every year.
why do you even post. you have never had anything positive to say about Coach Williams and most of your compliments about UNC are back handed.
Just my opinion but I dont think you are a UNC fan but a fan of another team ... DUIke, ncsu, WFU ... etc.
If you are a UNC fan, I bet you have cut marks all up and down your arm/wrist region.
Superstition
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 08:13 — red87devilsKeep it up Coach, spit, dice, whatever. i have things i do before each game too keep up my Superstitions: say sayings, same chair, same TV, no changes; wife must be quite and i will not answer the phone, ever....
Both...
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 08:11 — ccven84Thinking positively, spit this weekend and roll the bones NEXT weekend! ;)
UNC and the NCAA
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 08:10 — s196322He can spit or do anything he wants to in the river but unless his team improves their defense they will not make it out of Memphis alive. Forget the silly stuff and focus on what will win. Get serious it is crunch time in March.
LOSE = NOT ALIVE??
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 09:57 — gvillegatryou mean to tell me if the Heels lose this weekend in memphis, they will all die??
I guess they better win!
GO HEELS!!
If the Tar Heels get upset this weekend....
Wed, 03/25/2009 - 11:35 — JPDOhioI guess those fans who don't commit suicide will be going after the team. Or they could just use the money they won't be donating to the Rams Club to hire some wiseguys from Chicago to handle the job.