CHAPEL HILL -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams tried to take the blame for his team’s 2-4 ACC start on his shoulders Sunday night, saying he needed to find a better way of coaching.
But after being blown out by Virginia 75-60, senior Deon Thompson said the blame rests with the players: “Guys just need to care more. [They] just need to care more about this jersey the name, that we wear on the front of our chest. It just means so much in the history, and it represents so much, and we’re just not representing Carolina basketball that way right now.”
Point guard Larry Drew II said that leading up to the game against the Cavs, workouts weren’t as intense as the ones before Tuesday's victory at N.C. State. “I don’t want to say I saw it coming, but practices this week leading up to [this] game haven’t been up to par with the practices before the State game.”
Why?
Thompson said that he and fellow senior Marcus Ginyard have tried to take on leadership roles to rally the team, “but guys have to respond,’’ Thompson said. “Even if you get mad, it’s still up to them to respond to what you say. So it’s a two-way street.”
Asked if there was some sort of divide within the team that’s affecting its play, he said no.
“In the past – we all aren’t the same as we were in the past, when everyone was so close off the court,’’ Thompson said. “But … it’s two different classes – a whole bunch of younger guys, and a few older guys. So it is a little more divided, but I don’t think that has to do with anything on the court.”
For his part, Williams – who was tearing up after the game, he said, because he was so “ticked off” – said that he must find a way to push the Tar Heels to get better.
(And fast. With 10 games left in the regular season, they must go .500 the rest of the just to finish 7-9 in the ACC, and even that mark is an iffy one historically for earning an at-large NCAA bid.)
“In April, everybody thought I was pretty smart,’’ Williams said. “But we’re not playing very well, so I’ve got to do a better job. Things that I’ve always done my entire life are not working with this group, so I’ve got to find something different to do. And it’s – players still play, but I’ve got to do a better job of coaching.”
But Thompson said the Tar Heels also have to find a better way to accept his coaching, then show it on the court.
“He’s definitely been more intense about the way he’s approached practice, and stopped the spoon-feeding of the younger guys and trying to teach them so much,’’ Thompson said. “Because by now, you’ve got to know the things that he’s been teaching. He tries to put a lot on himself, but it’s not him at all. He wouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame and have the record that he has, if what he teaches isn’t true. It’s us, and we’ve got to make that change, and buy in to what he’s trying to teach us.”
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
he has absolutely NO ANSWERS
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 01:36 — TheMambaSTRIKESNew Mon, 02/01/2010 - 19:49 — gvillegatr wrote:
in your warped sense of thinking, you make sense every once in awhile. But you are way off base here.
It is absolutely pathetic how you always dismiss ALL of Coach Williams positive (damn near all of it) but cut him to the bone for one or two faults.
========================
Everyone who wants to "circle jerk" with Roy Boy - be my guest...but that is not going to change the fact that he and his 5 Mickey D's were humiliated in the Holes Dome on Tuesday night by a rookie ACC coach , 1 Mickey D, and a bunch of Who Dats.... and Roy had absolutely NO ANSWERS to stop the bleeding and the butt ugly loss with a team that looks/plays LOST.
He can not win with a dysfunctional roster of bodies that he has recruited , and then he compounds the problem by stubbornly starting the same core group of stiffs every night... they are not producing at all in the ACC games....
This season is over except whether they finish above .500 and get into the NCAA for all the wrong reasons..or below .500 and disqualify themselves into the NIT.
Ha
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 14:16 — Heels20So the only way we make the NCAA tournament would be if we made it for the wrong reasons? Yeah, that makes sense.
no answers?
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 12:18 — gvillegatrwell, mammy, you either root for DUIke or state college. ot is one or the other or you wouldn't be here.
so
tell us the answers Krushekov has for DUIke and all their problems down in the post. oh, you can't? i'm sorry. yea, K keeps repeating history every year doesn't he. cn't get out of the sweet 16 assuming he can get that far. as well as he can't seem to win on the road.
tell us the answers Sidney has for state college? is he evn capable of running a college program? sure, he has the energy, drive and spirit. but does he have the direction, smarts or knowledge?
we'll be waiting. you seem to hvae all the answers for UNC but what about your team? which one is it? DUIke or state college.
we're wating ....
G-ALLIGATOR!!
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 13:11 — bluecat69bluecat69ACTUALLY IT IS IS ST. MARYS, OK, GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BY THE WAY , WHERE ARE THE HOLES RANKED IN TODAYS RANKINGS????GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!
PSSST. Its actually
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 12:59 — unc098PSSST. Its actually Presbyterian College.
mamby!!!
Tue, 02/02/2010 - 11:26 — bluecat69bluecat69u are 100% correct again!!! go duke!!!!
stubborn Roy Boy
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 14:25 — TheMambaSTRIKESUnless & Until stubborn Roy Boy BENCHES Thompson...Drew..and GONEyard......this TRAIN WRECK will continue night after night after night....
Roy boy has proven he can win with Doherty's left overs..and with a gift from the grave when Lawson, Ellington, Green all withdrew from the draft at the last minute....
BFD.......
Last night 10 McDonald's All Americans and their Coach...got OUT COACHED & OUT Played by 10 no names who only eat at McDonald's and a rookie ACC coach.
sometimes
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 19:49 — gvillegatrin your warped sense of thinking, you make sense every once in awhile. But you are way off base here.
It is absolutely pathietic how you always dismiss ALL of Coach Williams positive (damn near all of it) but cut him to the bone for one or two faults.
Either you are the most retarded person on this board like BC69 or you are just being a fool and idiot by talking stupid just to get a rise out of the others.
I'm not leaning one way or the other at the moment. 50/50.
mamby!!!!!!!
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 20:02 — bluecat69bluecat69are we going to put up with this sh-t from--g-alligator?? ol- roy is in the process of imploding, also g- alligator, go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by the way have u boys seen the new poll, no hole college and no cow college. go duke!!!!!
Gville
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 19:58 — unc098On the Charlotte Observer board he calls himself: Beware the Cobra.....I am beginning to think he is illegally importing snakes...Mainly he copies and pastes the same drivel on both. His points are not off base just written to bait the fans into a frenzy. His venom is weak. As for BC. He is only 8 and lied about his age to get on this site. Its obvious to anyone who has kids.
John Wall
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 14:02 — Heels20For any one criticizing Roy's decision to not offer John Wall, I would like you to take a look at how Wall responded to John Calipari's attempt to coach him:
"I don't know. He said I played awful. I didn't think I played that bad. I don't know what to expect. He's probably going to say I played bad today too so. I don't know. I just try not to listen to him and go out and play basketball and try and help my team."
Now, I'm not saying Calipari is the classiest guy in the world, nor am I saying that any one should base their opinion on Wall off of this one quote. However, this demonstrates a blatant misunderstanding as to who is the player and who is the coach. When you go out and turn the ball over 7 times, you can't call that a great game. That's an issue in and of itself, but what should really jump out at people is Wall's attitude. If he can't take it when Calipari calls him out for playing too loose, can you imagine what a disaster that would be if he were wearing the lighter shade of blue? How many times has Roy brought up on-court issues with Drew II and Strickland? Even after Strickland hit a big 3 that pretty much put Rutgers away, Roy talked about how bad of a shot selection it was. I just hope I'm not the only one recognizing how bad of a fit Wall would have been.
Surfer
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 11:16 — unc098I say take the JDP's advice and play the group that practices the hardest. Can you believe the comment that D2 said about the intensity of the practices this week? I say put the 3rd string in who plays hard everyday. I will bet they wouldn't get blown out because they play relentless DEFENSE. They would make a game of it just on effort.
No Rims
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 13:14 — SurferAgree, rims coming off at practice tomorrow. Re: practice intensity, remember, Roy would rather beat State than eat, but the first 10 minutes of the second half last night were just terrible.
I think defense is the key, we got few transition points last night; plus being stronger down low for the high percentage shots.
The worst part about last night is that we had played so well against State, yet were so flat and lathargic for much of the game last night.
Time for Ginyard, Thompson
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 10:10 — JustObservingTime for Ginyard, Thompson and Davis to stop riding on last year's success and "tough up".
whine, whine whine!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 10:00 — bluecat69bluecat69do u boys think john wall could have helped the holes? ol top ten roy ,didnt think so. he looks like he is lost , that singer tony b . made him look silly. dont blame all of tgohis on the players, the blame starts at the top, remember he makes the big bucks.go duke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
until Roy takes the rest of the season off
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 12:18 — dkellyuncyou can't say sh#t. your boy K took a year off when dook was flat out garbage so shut up. no one's hiding. this team still can improve and finish the season in decent fashion.
the real question is what will all the dookies have for excuses IF they cannot beat this pitiful UNC squad? dook isn't that good. athletic teams continue to give them problems...they are a top 5 team at home and at home only.
dkellyhole!!!
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 13:07 — bluecat69bluecat69DUKE will beat the holes at home and at the hole dome, that is for sure 2 more loses, look at ol roy, he looks bad, but not as bad as his team, i dont think the holes will even have a winning record this yr. maybe u-all need to bring dean back, and freeze the ball, as in 4-corners, i must shut up, ok, go DUKE.
BC
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 10:57 — unc098Do You think John Wall could have helped the DOOOKies?
Your brain dead and hopeless. Your going to repeat 5th grade.
HOLE-98 AKA THE TEACHER!!!!
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 11:58 — bluecat69bluecat69if i have to repeat the 5th grade, and u are my teacher, as u have said. isnt that a reflection on your teaching abilities???john wall could help any team, but ol roy didnt think so, bring back matt, ok, go duke!!!!!!!!!!!
BC
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 14:38 — unc098Hey I tried dude. You wouldn't even take the test...speaking of which you just went from an incomplete to an F....just like Roy you can bring the horse to the water but you can't make him drink....and just like Roy's team you are unteachable....what does that say about you?
Well they are kids....and
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 09:43 — unc098Well they are kids....and anyone who has been a parent of a teenager understands how buttheaded they can be.....nevertheless.. I have to say that Roy hasn't gotten a handle on this team and I think all these Mackie D's need to listen up or transfer and let Roy build a team that will accept his coaching. Deon is one to talk about caring!!He hasn't learned crap about playing big since he got here....I thought I would never say it but I am really looking forward to Football season.
True statement
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 10:18 — JPDOhioI can't imagine having my livelihood depend on the performance of a bunch of 18-22 year olds. Yet that's what college coaches face every day. Not that any of them deserve any sympathy. They chose their profession and are paid well to deal with the good and bad.
Roy blaming himself is just a smoke screen. His resume speaks for itself and there is no reason he should change his style or approach to coaching. It is not like the talent isn't there (at least on paper) to run his system. It is just that it is taking time for these guys to get it.
What UNC lacks this year is on-court leadership. It is not getting it from the experienced guys and it will take time for the younger guys to step up. This is where UNC misses Hansbrough the most-someone who brought relentless work ethic every day.
If I were Roy, I would allocate playing time to the guys who work the hardest in practice, assuming there would be at least five to fill all the starting spots. The talent is there, the desire is not.
olroy aka--matt d. !!!
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 11:53 — bluecat69bluecat69i thought the holes fired matt, but obviously they didnt.if ol roy has the talent, as u state, why are u good ol boys paying him that much money, if he cant get it out of them?? bring back matt, ok, go duke!!!!!!!!!!
Change
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 11:08 — SurferDon't be surprised to see this happen. Roy usually leans towards the upper classmen, but maybe this is what he will do, ref. his comment about doing something different.
I have never seen Roy this "ticked off" before.
With play like this 5 more ACC wins are going to be hard to come by. My expectations for this year were low, but this is worse that anticipated.
Well put JD
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 10:55 — unc098Well put JPD
HOLE-98 AKA THE TEACHER!!!!
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 10:06 — bluecat69bluecat69maybe u need to be the coach of the losing heels, since u are a teacher, u could at least show them how to hit the hole, like tiger, ok, go duke!!!!!!!!!!!! watch what u wish for, fb is not going to be any better than bb, duke will win both bb games and fb, also, go duke!!
Cares???
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 09:27 — blitzballRoy needs to look in a mirror. The players saying that they need to care more is not the problem. Roy needs to care more. He finally won the championship and no longer has the edge needed. He has become an egotistical crybaby who, when finally faced with adversity, can't rely on talented players to pull it out for him.
Yeah, that's it
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 13:07 — Heels20And I suppose that's why the '06 team surprised so many people? Get a clue.
Maybe Roy's problem...
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 02:29 — trickydickpks...is that he has only recruited good basketball players and he hasn't recruited men. If a young basketball player won't listen to one of the top ten coaches of all time they obviously lack the moral character necessary to wear the North Carolina jersey.
Tricky
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 23:38 — unc098Like Hansbrough?????What a lame comment....and a few folks at Kansas?? come up for air dude.