North Carolina coach Roy Williams says he was "confused" by NCAA tournament selection show. ROBERT WILLETT
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Roy Williams was “stunned” when he learned that the Tar Heels would be a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament, he said on Tuesday. UNC, the eighth seed in the South Region, will play against No. 9 Villanova on Friday in Kansas City.
The winner likely gets to play Kansas, the region’s top seed, on Sunday. Williams coached at Kansas for 15 seasons before returning to his alma mater in 2003.
I have a full story coming about Williams’ comments, but here he is, in his own words, about UNC’s seeding:
-on his reaction to UNC’s seed:
“I don’t mind telling you, I was stunned. I saw North Carolina in the number eight, I was stunned. And so then it took me a couple seconds, ‘Hey, that’s us. It’s not somebody else, that’s us.’
“And so then everyone clapped. You know, and North Carolina is never going to have one of those tremendous celebrations because we expect to be there. Those tremendous celebrations come from teams who don’t think they’re going to make it, and make it, or haven’t been there very often and now they make it kind of thing.”
-on where he thought UNC would be seeded:
“I said in the release, I was disappointed for our league. Two twos and two eights. I didn’t think that was good for our league, I didn’t think it was necessarily fair for our league. But you’ve heard me say this a hundred times – it’s what it is and we’ve got to go play.”
-on seeing Kansas in the same pod as UNC:
“It’s the same kind of thing. You say, ‘Wow.’ But I’m thinking about Villanova. I really am. It was a surprise, being No. 8, and it was a little surprise going to play in Kansas City, if we win one game. But if you start thinking about playing Kansas in Kansas City, you forget about the biggest duty, and that’s to win a game to even get there.”
Comments
Ha I have more problems with
Fri, 03/22/2013 - 16:58 — unc098Ha
I have more problems with where we are playing. KU at their place again?????? Sounds like the NCAA is looking for some television revenue considering that the Heels are in an "off" year.
Stunned
Wed, 03/20/2013 - 10:02 — JPDOhioI am stunned that Roy is stunned about UNC's stunning #8 seed. Seriously?
Most of the Bracketology projections I have seen had UNC as a 7 or 8 seed. Best probably was 5, worst about 9. So, the #8 seed may be off by one. Hardly "stunning".
Then again, Roy does have a tendency to exaggerate on occasion. :-)
One guy I know
Wed, 03/20/2013 - 22:33 — gvillegatrAnd a guy you've probably met once or twice (ok, probably more than that) had the Heels as a 7. Lunar do had them as a 6. But I'm not sure Jerry Palm had them in at all considering how I heard him talk about the Heels every week for the last month.
I am aware
Wed, 03/20/2013 - 23:44 — JPDOhioThat same guy was spot on with the Pack at #8. No alumnus bias there.
pack
Thu, 03/21/2013 - 14:43 — SurferAs it should be. The Pack's RPI = 33, divided by 4 equals, whalaa, 8 (ish).
Easy to see
Wed, 03/20/2013 - 12:35 — SurferMaybe the projections you saw were prior to UNC making the ACC championship game?
If he was expecting a better seed (say in your reference, a 5) Then it is easy to see why he would be stunned to see an 8. It is easy to see his expectations, as he said, "UNC's RPI was 17, divide that by 4, you don't get that 8". Do the math on the at-large teams, there are only a few outliers Minnesota, 34 and 11; Colorado State, 18 and 8; UNC; and maybe Boise State, 41 and 13.
So if he anticipated somewhere between a 7 and 9, then no, an 8 would not be "stunning". But if he was anticipating somthing in the 4 to 6 range, then yes, an 8 is a surprise.
You should know by now that Coach Williams always expects better. ;-)
Seems like a non issue
Tue, 03/19/2013 - 20:53 — gvillegatrBut I'll promise you this - AC will make a mountain out of it in his coming piece. Looking forward to it ...
Regular Sports Section
Wed, 03/20/2013 - 12:39 — SurferRead it in the reagular sports section. Not a bad piece. It explains quite well why Coach Williams is stunned by the 8. Makes perfect sense.
Ok
Wed, 03/20/2013 - 22:35 — gvillegatrYou know me - I just get this itch I can't scratch sometimes.
Thinking of that
Thu, 03/21/2013 - 17:08 — JPDOhioYou've seen that AT&T commercial where the little girl says you have to be fast so you don't get bit by a werewolf. It occurred to me that there is a terrific endorsement opportunity for Roy if he wants it.
I can see it now. Roy sitting at the table going, "RRRrrrRRRrrrrRRRRRrrrrRR. I wish we were better than #8".