Four years ago, Roy Williams felt some butterflies heading into his first “Late Night” basketball practice.
The long-time North Carolina assistant was confident he’d receive a hearty welcome from Kansas’ basketball fans. Yet he couldn’t be 100 percent sure.
After all, his predecessor Larry Brown, pretty much achieved cult status here after leading the Jayhawks to a national title in April of ’88.
“I still remember that first night, the way the people made me feel,” said Williams.
He received a standing ovation and heard the first chants of “Roy, Roy” from KU’s student section at the start of the 1988 Late Night.
“I’ll always remember that,” Williams said. “It’s strange three years have gone by so quickly. Then again, sometimes it seems like 100 years ago, so much has happened, he added, laughing.
Williams and his staff have, in fact, survived a Brown-caused probation his first year, earned a No. 1 ranking much of his second season and reached the Final Four in his third season.
His fourth begins with Friday’s Late Night.
“I think people who support Kansas basketball look forward to it. There’s a big history, tradition. It gives them a chance to see our new players,” Williams said.
Williams’ first three Late Nights were held at midnight Oct. 15, the first day teams can practice in accordance with NCAA rules.
This year, it’s been moved back three days to Friday. It’s being included as part of the Homecoming weekend. Late Night starts at 6:30 p.m. when KU meets Colorado in a volleyball match.
At 8:50, the KU pep band will play. At 9:05, the women’s basketball cheerleaders will peform a routine, followed by introductions to the women’s basketball team.
The varsity cheerleaders will perform a 9:15. At 9:20, a presentation will be made to Williams, inducting him into KU’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
At 9:25, the Crimson Girls perfom. Player skits will begin at 9:30. After that is a fund-raising shootout for the Ryan Gray Playground For all Children. The Jayhawks will scrimmage at 10.
