CHAPEL HILL — After berating UNC fans on Sunday for not showing up for the game against Nevada, coach Roy Williams complimented them for being so loud and boisterous during the Tar Heels’ 89-82 victory on Tuesday against Michigan State.
"I’ve been chastising our crowd, and rightfully so because they've been sorry," Williams said. "But God Almighty, they were good tonight. There were six people that asked me for tickets, and I said no to six different people because they didn't come to watch Valpo or Gardner-Webb, so I wasn't going to give their butts tickets to come and watch a big game. But the crowd was important to us tonight. We've got to have that kind of participation from the student body and the alums and everybody."
TALKING DELVON: Williams called Michigan State forward Delvon Roe a "great kid, a wonderful kid that we tried very, very hard to recruit."
Asked if he was worried that there was any controversy about mentioning Roe in his autobiography, Williams said, "No. I’ve got some people that I said a heck of a lot [more] bad things about; I didn’t say anything bad about Delvon. I said that we thought we were going to get him, and we didn't get him. I said he’s a great player. If there's any fallout from that, then people are looking for it."
Roe, who had eight points and 10 rebounds before fouling out Tuesday, was not named specifically in the book. But Williams did refer to a player who told him he was coming to UNC before ultimately choosing Michigan State instead.
"He told me he was coming,’’ Williams said Tuesday. "He didn’t come. I've looked every day at practice, and I haven’t seen him yet."
OBSERVATIONS: Williams recently added a new title to his resume: bestselling author. His autobiography, "Hard Work," written with Tim Crothers, has climbed to No. 15 on the The New York Times' hardback nonfiction bestseller list, marking the third week in a row it has made the list. ... UNC's coaching staff wore red ribbons for awareness of World AIDS Day, which was Tuesday. ... It was bad enough that UNC quarterback T.J. Yates was pinged in the helmet while walking off his home field earlier this season. But what happened during Tuesday's basketball game was worse. When his image flashed on the video boards as part of the "I'm a Tar Heel" montage, the boos from the crowd were audible. Really, Tar Heel fans?
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Tarheel fans are Trailer
Wed, 12/16/2009 - 08:18 — the_answerTarheel fans are Trailer Trash...
Look at all these fans
Fri, 12/04/2009 - 16:40 — mad_maxLook at all these fans getting their panties in a wad over this. Funny how you compare the treatment of TJ Yates to that one occasion when State fans booed Daniel Evans (and most argue that they weren't even booing Evans, but that's a debate for another day). At least nobody threw anything at the kid, or booed every time his picture popped up anywhere. And how come this hasn't been all over the paper and the radio like the Daniel Evans situation was? For a good two weeks back then, I couldn't turn on the radio without hearing the David Glenns and Bomani Jones' of the radio world calling State fans classless. What a crock. And for those of you who think it's unfair for anyone to write an article about this...try having somebody like Barry Saunders work for the N&O and claim that State fans were chanting n***er at a game he was never even at! Stop crying like little babies and have some accountability for your fan base that isn't so perfect after all.
On a seperate note, I watched this game on TV, and it did seem like a great environment for such a big game, thanks to the energetic crowd. Looks like the fans were listening to 'ol Roy last week.
I was there
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 16:56 — Worz4UNCfirst row upper deck Heels' end of the court and did NOT hear any BOOs. There may have been some but I heard NONE.
so WHY OH WHY would you say what you said in your pathetic article
geeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz louiseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee get better at your trade
Yates
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 14:37 — heelsno1While Yates has received well-deserved criticism for his erratic play and costly errors in several losses, he played a very solid game against State. Key factors that led to the defeat in Raleigh:
1. Lack of poise (no team should rack up 120+ yards in penalties, particlulary in the 12th game of the season)
2. Costly mistakes (fumble at goal line, blocked field goal, running back taking a 14 yard loss, etc.)
3. Bad scheme in second half (play calling became overly conservative and yielded 3 points).
Fourth down toss
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 15:32 — SurferAgree completely, but would have liked to see him throw it deep on the fourth and ten instead of into the stands. I am sure he knows that by now.
Take one of those key factors away that you listed and UNC wins. Everybody knows that the better team lost that day. It shouldn't have even been close. The underdog wins on occasion, that's why they play the games.
Maybe a little
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 15:36 — unc098Maybe a little "interception" shy after BC.
agreed
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 15:28 — unc098On all points. I was at the game and TJ had his best game of the season. HE does seem to be uncomfortable in the offensive scheme this year. O line and backfield injuries didn't help. All in all he came through on some clutch drives (VT) and the offense seemed to gather momentum later in the year with exception of BC. It will be interesting to see who prevails in the spring. I believe Renner will give him a run
Not a big deal
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 11:52 — ThePRGuyYes, there were some boos when TJ flashed up on the video screens but a vocal minority does not represent the full fan base. There were cheers for TJ as well. I applaud any athlete who represents their school with class, who works hard, and who accepts responsibility for their good and bad play.
Agreed
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 12:13 — WNCMikeThe boos were greatly outnumbered by the cheers as anyone who was there could tell you...of course that didn't get mentioned in the article. Wonder why?
i think
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 11:12 — gvillegatralot of fans don't realize it is just as much Shoop's fault than TJ's fault. Shoop is the one who calls the plays.
bottom line is, if Shoop and Davis don't go conservative in the 2nd of fsu and ncsu game, TJ DOES NOT get booed b/c the Heels win. too bad that wasn't the case b/c fsu and ncsu, both, won the game.
Agreed 100%
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 12:40 — Heels20UVA, UMD, WVU, FSU, NCSU. That's 5 losses in 2 years that were the result of Butch and Shoop adjusting the gameplan to "play not to lose" when we get a lead.
The only time we didn't get conservative was against VT in '08. So we only go for the throat when Paulus is in? Okay, that makes sense...
observations
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 09:24 — unc098I wasn't at the game and didn't hear the boos for TJ, but I am appalled at that behavior and those are the people who shouldn't get tickets Roy !!!
poor taste
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 09:43 — gvillegatrreminds of the boos the nc state fans gave Daniel Evans last season at a football game.
Where is the Luke DeCock
Wed, 12/02/2009 - 10:27 — packman83Where is the Luke DeCock column admonishing the UNC fans for booing Yates like the one he wrote after the Evans booing incident?